It may have taken a break in the weather, two divers and a crane but two of the north-east’s grumpiest denizens are now on their way to warmer climes.
Conger eels Dr Evil and Rocket were released into the wild yesterday on the first step of their migration to the deep waters of the Azores to mate.
The two six-foot-long fish, who have been residents of Macduff Marine Aquarium for five years, were trapped in a lifting bag, hoisted out over the aquarium roof and lowered into the sea.
Aquarium divers Chris Roe and Lauren Smith were on hand to release the creatures and – after some initial confusion – point them in the right direction.
Last night aquarium manager Claire Matthews said: “It was rather a palaver getting them into a pipe and then into the bag, but hopefully they’re now both swimming to the Azores in the Atlantic.
“We’re confident they’re heading in the right direction. We suspect they’ll go over the top of Scotland and then follow prevailing currents south.
“It’s strange what happens – the eels go through a complete biological change. Their insides basically turn to mush and reproductive organs.
“Instinct drives them to the Azores to mate. They’re then so spent they die.”
Newly-born eels – known as leptocephalus – drift back on the currents to cooler waters, but the aquarium is in no rush to house more congers to fill the gap left by Dr Evil and Rocket.
Mrs Matthews said its younger specimen, Connie, was keeping her feeders busy enough.
“She’s feisty – really feisty in fact,” she said.
“She can cause quite some concern because she has a bit of a bite.”