Defra have announced that they will not be granting permits to UK Glass Eels to export live baby eels (elvers) to Russia. This looks like a victory, although Defra's reluctance to issue a proper announcement on future policy may be designed to allow them weaselling room in the future.

It is a remarkable result, bearing in mind how Defra usually seems to me to prefer to take the side of business and of landowners rather than conservationists.

With luck the future of elvering is with conservation fishing of elvers from the Severn to restock the UK's rivers and help the recovery of the eel.

We should also spare a thought for the full-time and casual staff of UK Glass Eels who may face redundancy, and the elvermen for whom elver fishing is part of their way of life. The satisfaction of victory is tinged with regret at the loss other people will feel, and it would be wrong to be too vainglorious.