The American Eel, a Species at Risk

The American eel has been identified as Threatened by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). This designation was made following a review of the status of the species in 2012. In 2006, COSEWIC assessed the species as Special Concern. The redesignation by COSEWIC points to a deterioration in its status despite a drop in the mortality rate attributable to commercial harvesting.

The eel is a fascinating species. It probably occupies the widest variety of aquatic habitats of all fish. It has a very broad range in the Atlantic, stretching from Venezuela all the way to Greenland and Iceland. Its range includes all freshwater bodies, estuaries and coastal marine waters accessible via the Atlantic Ocean. In Canada, it can be found in the Great Lakes and up to the middle of the Labrador coast.

Between 1996 and 2010, a 65% decline in the number of eels close to maturity was noted in the Lake Ontario–St. Lawrence River system. In some parts of Ontario, the decline exceeded 90% in two generations. Substantial declines were also observed in some parts of the Maritimes.

The American eel faces a number of threats, such as obstacles in freshwater preventing its upstream migration, mortality due to hydroelectric power plant turbines, fisheries, contaminants, swim bladder parasites, climate change and changes in ocean conditions.

The American eel is of great cultural and historical significance, particularly for many Aboriginal groups and communities. Fisheries and Oceans Canada is currently exploring the possibility of listing the American eel under the Species at Risk Act. The purpose of the Act is to prevent the disappearance of wildlife species, provide for their recovery and ensure the conservation of biological diversity. If it is listed as a threatened species, automatic prohibitions will come into effect and no person will be permitted to kill, harm, harass, capture, take, possess, collect, buy, sell or trade American eel. A recovery strategy will be developed to determine the measures to be implemented to mitigate the known threats associated with human activity. The critical habitat of the American eel will also be protected following its designation.

For more information or to share your comments, go to the Species at Risk Public Registry. Please submit your comments by March 18, 2016.

Marthe Bérubé
Ecosystem Management