University of Exeter research is testing a gravel eel pass design at Knapp Mill Water Treatment Works, facilitated by Bournemouth Water.
The trial, conducted by a final-year environmental science student as part of a dissertation, compares natural gravel against current plastic-based eel passes.
Juvenile European eels, known as elvers, face barriers like weirs and dams when migrating upstream, helping explain the species’ population decline.
Bournemouth Water provided the site and hands-on support for the research, while Fishtek Consulting and the Environment Agency collaborated on the project.
Fishtek has already begun applying the design at two sites in Nottinghamshire, showing early practical impact.
The innovations could be widely retrofitted, supporting the Water Industry National Environment Programme’s goals and aiding eel recovery.