The Eel Project: Fish conservation through community science This presentation has audio narration. Turn up your speakers! Website: https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/49580.html Contact: [email protected] American eel Anguilla rostrata “Freshwater eels” Catadromous Hudson River Migration story The American Eel Migration Story Sargasso Sea Hudson River Migration story At this life stage they are known as leptocephali Sargasso Sea Hudson River Migration story glass eels Sargasso Sea Hudson River Migration story In the Hudson and its tributaries, they transition from glass eels to elvers Tom McDowell Hudson River Migration story yellow eel Hudson River Migration story silver eel Sargasso Sea Eels grow for many years in rivers and streams Migration story Glass eels arrive Adult silver eels in estuaries return to the Sargasso to spawn Larvae move north on Gulf Stream currents Sargasso Sea American eels (Anguilla rostrata) likely hatch here Why do we care? Eel numbers are going down The population of American eels is declining. What factors could be causing this? Possible Factors Causing Recent Eel Declines Historic order of impact: 1. Habitat loss 2. Dams and barriers 3. Water pollution 4. Overfishing 5. Hydroelectric turbines 6. Climate change 7. Food web changes 8. Parasites (adapted from John Casselman, Queens University) How are people helping to better understand eels? The Hudson River Eel Project 1,000,000+ eels caught & released above barriers since 2008 ~1,000 volunteers annually What is The Glass Eel Project? Fyke nets are set in tributaries of the Hudson. Each day in the spring volunteers and students check the nets, count the eels, record the data, and release the eels above the next barrier to migration. Albany Poestenkill Hannacroix Creek Eel Project Sites Saw Kill Black Creek Enderkill Fall Kill Hunters Brook Quassaick Creek Indian Brook Minisceongo Creek Furnace Brook Blind Brook Saw Mill/CURB Richmond Creek NYC Want to join us? Find the site closest to you and send us an email! Stream City/Town County Poestenkill Troy Rensselaer Hannacroix Creek New Baltimore Greene Saw Kill Annandale-on-Hudson Dutchess Enderkill Staatsburg Dutchess Black Creek Esopus Ulster Fall Kill Poughkeepsie Dutchess Hunters Brook Wappingers Falls Dutchess Quassaick Creek Newburgh Orange Indian Brook Cold Spring Putnam Furnace Brook Cortlandt Westchester Minisceongo Creek West Haverstraw Rockland Blind Brook Rye Westchester Richmond Creek Staten Island Richmond [email protected] The Eel Project: Fish conservation through community science Website: https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/49580.html Contact: [email protected].