AnguillaLight

Tunable light systems for guiding the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) safely past dams, pumping stations, and hydropower intakes.

The Problem

The European eel (Anguilla anguilla) is critically endangered. Since the 1980s, recruitment has declined by more than 90% in many parts of its range. Every year, silver eel migrating downstream to the sea are killed in turbines, pumps, and sluices. Current solutions — physical passages, screens, and traps — are expensive, high-maintenance, and incomplete.

The eel does not need another passage. It needs to be guided.

Our Approach

AnguillaLight develops tunable LED light systems that steer eel away from danger and toward safe routes. Silver eel avoid light. By tuning wavelength, intensity, pulse rate, and geometry to each site, we create a behavioral barrier that guides eel past dams, pumping stations, and hydropower intakes — without physical structures.

The system is adjustable, calibratable per site, and validated with research partners.

Two Life Stages, Two Behaviors

Eel respond to light differently depending on their life stage:

• Glass eel and elver (upstream migration): attracted to light — particularly red, yellow, and purple wavelengths. Light can guide them into safe passages and traps.
• Silver eel (downstream migration): avoid light. Tuned light can steer them away from turbines, pumps, and intakes.

This means light-based guidance can support both upstream and downstream migration — a complete solution for eel protection.

The Science

Peer-reviewed research confirms the mechanism:

Vowles, A.S. & Kemp, P.S. (2021). Artificial light at night (ALAN) affects the downstream movement behaviour of the critically endangered European eel, Anguilla anguilla. Environmental Pollution, 274, 116476.

In controlled experiments, silver eel were significantly less likely to select an illuminated route, and more likely to reject it at higher light intensities. The study provides the foundation for field-based validation — the next step we are taking.

What We Are Building

A tunable, modular LED light system for water infrastructure:

• Adjustable wavelength, intensity, and pulse rate
• Submersible, pressure-rated, low power
• Site-specific calibration
• Data logging for proof and regulatory reporting
• Designed for dams, pumping stations, sluices, and hydropower intakes

Who We Work With

• Universities and research institutes
• Water authorities and river managers
• Hydropower operators
• Environmental agencies and grant programs

Contact

AnguillaLight
Email: info@anguillalight.com
Website: anguillalight.com

AnguillaLight — guiding eel with light.