Post-Doctoral Researcher, Dr Adam Piper, recently featured on the BBC’s Autumwatch to describe his research on eel behaviour.
European eel are particularly susceptible to damage and mortality at hydropower and water abstraction intakes. Mitigating for the negative impacts of such structures is a key focus of EU legislation (1100/2007/EC) aimed to restore declining eels stocks.
Adam explained that he is researching the movement and behaviour of eels in relation to the physical and hydrodynamic environments encountered at river structures such as dams, weirs, sluices.

Through his work at the International Centre for Ecohydraulic Research, Adam is helping to develop mechanisms to deter the eels from dangerous obstructions in the river leading them to safer routes.