In this special Talk of the Thames episode for World Eel Day, presenter Chloe Russell is joined by Andrew Kerr, Chairman of the Sustainable Eel Group, to uncover one of the most extraordinary and mysterious stories in the natural world — the life cycle and survival of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla).

🧭 From diving deeper than nuclear submarines to travelling 7,000km without eating, eels have a life journey unlike any other.

🐍 But with their population down by over 90%, this critically endangered species is now at the heart of a major conservation fight.

Andrew and Chloe discuss:

• Why the European eel is vanishing — and what makes its lifecycle so bizarre
• The shocking global scale of illegal eel trafficking
• The real reason we can’t breed eels in labs
• How communities, classrooms, and volunteers are helping rebuild the eel’s future
• What we can do — as individuals — to make a difference

💬 Plus: why saving the eel might also save our rivers, wetlands, and water systems.

🌍 More eel content is coming!

Although World Eel Day falls on Friday 16th May, we’ll be sharing more stories, facts, and interviews beyond this week — follow us Thames Estuary Partnership and stay tuned.

🎧 Want more? Check out our earlier episode from World Fish Migration Day about the Thames Catchment Community Eels Project, where six amazing organisations came together to reconnect rivers and communities for eel recovery.

🔗 Useful links:

• sustainableeelgroup.org
• thamesestuarypartnership.org
• Thames Catchment Community Eels Project

🎙️ Subscribe to Talk of the Thames for more inspiring stories from the river’s edge.

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Talk of the Thames has been brought to you by the Thames Estuary Partnership https://www.thamesestuarypartnership.org/

Keep up to date with TEP on all platforms!
Twitter: @ThamesEstPart
Facebook: @thamesestuarypartnership
Instagram: @thamesestuarypartnership
YouTube: @thamesestuarypartnership

Produced & Presented by Chloe Russell

#EelWeek2025 #WorldEelDay #TalkOfTheThames #EuropeanEel #RiverRestoration #WaterwaysMatter #NatureConnectivity #SustainableEelGroup #AndrewKerr #ChloeRussell #ThamesEstuaryPartnership

This episode is the second in our new panel discussion series People of the Thames on Talk of the Thames, where we explore how different communities work, create, and engage with the river. Hosted by Chloe Russell, this series brings together experts, storytellers, and practitioners whose lives and work are directly tied to the Thames.

In this panel, recorded aboard the working Theatreship in Canary Wharf, we explore the rich cultural and emotional connections people form with the Thames through art, music, history, and heritage. This is a conversation about creativity, community, and the personal stories that flow through the river’s current.

💡 What’s in this episode?

• The healing power of mudlarking and the emotional stories found in Thames treasures
• How folk songs connect us to a shared river culture
• The importance of storytelling and film in preserving community identity
• The role of art and cultural projects in deepening our relationship with the Thames

🎙️ Featuring:

🔹 Nicola White – Mudlark artist uncovering personal and historical narratives from Thames artefacts
🔹 Izzy Walter – Musician reviving folk songs and championing river heritage
🔹 Natalie Hill – Multi-BAFTA-winning filmmaker and film programmer at Theatreship
🔹 Adrian Evans – Cultural producer creating projects that connect communities through river-inspired storytelling

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Talk of the Thames has been brought to you by the Thames Estuary Partnership https://www.thamesestuarypartnership.org/

Keep up to date with TEP on all platforms!
Twitter: @ThamesEstPart
Facebook: @thamesestuarypartnership
Instagram: @thamesestuarypartnership
YouTube: @thamesestuarypartnership

Produced & Presented by Chloe Russell

This episode marks the launch of a new panel discussion series People of the Thames on Talk of the Thames, where we explore how different communities work, create, and engage with the river. Hosted by Chloe Russell, this series brings together experts, storytellers, and practitioners whose lives and work are directly tied to the Thames.

Episode 1: People of the Thames: Working on the River
In this first panel, we dive into the working life of the Thames—what it means to make a living on the river, preserve its heritage, and create opportunities for future generations. Recorded aboard the Theatreship, a beautifully restored vessel moored in Canary Wharf, this discussion captures the stories of those shaping the river’s future.

💡 What’s in this episode?

• The hidden world of river work—from marine restoration to skills training
• How the Thames connects people, past and present, through heritage and conservation
• The importance of creating opportunities for the next generation of river workers
• Challenges and hopes for the future of the Thames as a working and living river

Featuring:
🔹 Katherine Riggs (Thames Skills Academy) – on training and inspiring the next generation of river workers
🔹 Laura Nee (Thames Landscape Strategy) – on preserving and enhancing the river’s cultural and natural heritage
🔹 Inigo Lapwood (Theatreship) – on restoring historic vessels and keeping maritime history alive

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Talk of the Thames has been brought to you by the Thames Estuary Partnership https://www.thamesestuarypartnership.org/

Keep up to date with TEP on all platforms!
Twitter: @ThamesEstPart
Facebook: @thamesestuarypartnership
Instagram: @thamesestuarypartnership
YouTube: @thamesestuarypartnership

Produced & Presented by Chloe Russell