American Eel Research
& Habitat Restoration
American Eel populations in the Upper St. Lawrence River and Great Lakes have declined by over 99 percent since the 1970s, posing a serious threat to their status worldwide. The aim of the Eel Recovery project is to better understand eel mortality and injuries caused by the turbines, enhance habitat to support the recovery of injured eels, and encourage knowledge sharing and increased awareness about American eels among communities along the St. Lawrence River. This project builds on the work of a previous project (2013-2015) studying American eel habitat in the St. Lawrence River watershed led by Matt Windle.
Quick Links:
Contact
mwindle[at]riverinstitute.ca
Objectives
- Better understand eel injury and mortality to inform potential mitigation strategies
- Create habitat for downstream migrating eels to increase their chances of surviving an injury
- Evaluate the impact of habitat improvements
- Raise awareness about the importance of American eels and threats to the species
Partners & Collaborators
Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Queen’s University, Canadian Wildlife Federation, Raisin Region Conservation Authority
Funders
- Environment and Climate Change Canada
- Ontario Ministry of Environment Conservation and Parks
- Kenneth M. Molson Foundation
Resources
Report eel sightings
YouTube
The Eel Recovery Project
Photo Gallery
