A FLINTSHIRE company is working with environmentalists to save a critically endangered eel species from extinction.

Tissue manufacturer Essity's Oakenholt Mill has a reservoir at the back of the site that supplies water for the production process. But it is also home to rare European eels that make their way inland before returning to the sea to breed.

For many years, generations of young eels have made their way via a water-filled concrete channel with steps up from the River Dee to the Oakenholt reservoir. But, as part of the company's efforts to support its global environmental efforts, it worked with Natural Resources Wales and environmental consultancy Five Rivers to come up with up with a better solution.

A European eel.

A European eel.

During work to create a new spillway from the reservoir, the mill funded the installation of a 200-metre-long eel pass to help the young eels make the arduous climb.

This comprises multiple strands of what is known as 'spat rope' which is attached at the site of the spillway, becomes covered in vegetation and provides a safe and easy route for the eels.

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The mill's quality and environment manager, Dawn Harris, said: "Given our commitment to environmental best-practice, we were keen to make this significant investment to help protect European eels - that have been in decline over the past 30 years and are on the critically-endangered list.

"The once-common European eel was an 18th century delicacy, and until recently was popular in the east end of London's pie and mash shops. But it is now a protected species that needs our help.

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"Eels are fascinating creatures that start life off the coast of Bermuda where they hatch in the Sargasso Sea before being carried across to Europe by the Gulf Stream.

"Here, the miniature eels - known as glass eels - migrate inland in search of freshwater lakes and reservoirs where they mature for up to 10 years before returning as fully-grown adults to the sea to breed.

"But in the last half century, the number of eels surviving this incredible journey has dropped by about 95 per cent thanks to climate change, overfishing and pollution. Our stretch of coast is one of the few remaining estuaries in Europe where this miracle of nature still takes place."