Sixty three pupils from St Mary’s primary school, Bellaghy and St Oliver Plunketts primary school in Toome recently received an introduction to the amazing science and biology of eels.
![](https://www.afbini.gov.uk/sites/afbini.gov.uk/files/styles/inline/public/images/%5Bcurrent-domain%3Amachine-name%5D/news/Image_2.jpg?itok=NQUQKXbe×tamp=1498042853)
AFBI’s Freshwater Fisheries team of Dr Derek Evans, Mr Conor Dolan (PhD Student) and Mr Jack Wootton (MRes Student), assisted by Carolyn Wilson from AFBI Corporate Communications gave the young audience an insight into the mysteries of the eel and how the largest eel fishery in Europe, which is right on their doorstep, operates and exports to all over Europe. Even though many of the school children came from fishing communities they had never seen the eel “up close and personal” and they had never had the chance to hold one.
Following a range of activities including an eel life cycle movie, slippery eel quiz and the chance to take home a few goodies, lots of tricky questions followed, with Conor commenting that he “hoped his upcoming PhD viva wouldn’t be as hard”.
Notes to editors:
AFBI carries out high quality technology research and development, statutory, analytical, and diagnostic testing functions for DAERA and other Government departments, public bodies and commercial companies.
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