Written question asked by Mark Todd (Labour) on Thursday, 25 February 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 1 March 2010. It was answered by Huw Irranca-Davies (Labour) on Thursday, 4 March 2010 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Eels

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will assess the effect on small-scale hydroelectric schemes of the obligation to provide eel passes.

Answer: Eel passes will be required wherever eels are present but are prevented from upstream migration; the Environment Agency will undertake an exercise to identify such locations during 2010.The Environment Agency estimates that approximately 500 schemes (involving between 10-20 eel passes per scheme) will be required. Eel passes generally cost significantly less than those required to enable the migration of salmonids and can be in the order of between £500 to £2,000 per pass. However, where other substantial works are ongoing at the same time, the additional cost of building an eel pass or other easement can be much reduced. A separate assessment of the effect on small-scale hydroelectric schemes of the requirement to provide eel passes has not been made.

Secondary information