What is Happening to the American Eel?  

Over the past two decades, the American Eel, which was once a major fish species of the Lake Ontario – St. Lawrence River ecosystem, has been suffering a major decline in population.  Eight hypothetical causes for the decline have been identified, including river regulation and damming, and reproductive failure due to contaminant loadings and exposure. As a top voracious predator, the American Eel is a major component of the Lake Ontario – St. Lawrence River ecosystem and helps keep other fish species in balance.

The American Eel was designated a Species of Special Concern in a report to the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) in 2006. With the designation to be reassessed in 2011, a number of scientific investigations were conducted over the past five years. Environment Canada scientists from the Aquatic Ecosystem Protection Research Division focused on two of the main research areas/studies:

1. The effects of climate change and river regulation on the decline of the American Eel (including Drs. Yves de Lafontaine, Pierre Gagnon, and Christiane Hudon).
2. The potential impacts of industrial contaminants on reproductive capacity of the American Eel in Lake Ontario (Dr. Mehran Alaee).

Results from the two studies were presented and reviewed at the 9^th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Eel Science Working Group held in Montreal (November 29 & 30, 2011) to help develop protection and restoration strategies for the re-establishment of this species in eastern Canada.

Contacts: Yves de Lafontaine, yves.delafontaine@ec.gc.ca; Mehran Alaee, mehran.alaee@ec.gc.ca | Aquatic Ecosystem Protection Research