American
eel are an important resource from both a biodiversity and human
use perspective. In all its life stages, eel serve as an important
prey species for many fish, aquatic mammals, and fish-eating birds.
Although fisheries are a fraction of what they were historically,
eel support valuable commercial, recreational, and subsistence
fisheries.
American eel are a
particularly challenging species to conserve and manage on a coastwide
basis for a number of reasons. During its life-span, including
multiple juvenile life stages and adulthood, the American eel
will have inhabited and traversed a wide range of habitats including
the Sargasso Sea, estuaries, and inland riverine systems. Throughout
this journey, the American eel will have been under a myriad of
management authorities, from the high seas to multiple federal
governments and multiple state and provincial governments.
From a biological
perspective, much is still unknown about the species. Information
about abundance and status at all life stages, as well as habitat
requirements, is very limited. The life history of the species,
such as late age of maturity and a tendency for certain life stages
to aggregate, can make this species particularly vulnerable to
overharvest. New management measures are being developed to enhance
eel recruitment biomass and facilitate escapement of potential
spawners. In addition, coordinated efforts for effective American
eel management have begun throughout most of the species’
range, including Canada. <species
profile> <stock
status> <habitat
fact sheet>
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