At a glance
- IUCN category
- EN · Endangered
- Animal group
- Fish
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The American eel is a snake-like fish with a remarkable life cycle spanning the open Atlantic and North America's rivers. It is assessed as Endangered.
Like the European eel, it spawns in the Sargasso Sea and grows in continental waters.
Range & habitat
Born in the Atlantic's Sargasso Sea; lives in fresh and coastal waters of eastern North America.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Barriers such as dams
- Overfishing of young eels
- Habitat loss and changing ocean conditions
Why it matters
A once-abundant migratory fish now in decline, the American eel links the health of the open ocean, rivers, and fisheries across eastern North America.
Sources
Sources for American Eel
- IUCN Red List — look up American Eel (authoritative status)
- FishBase
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the American eel born?
It is thought to spawn in the Sargasso Sea; tiny larvae drift to North America, where eels grow for years in rivers and estuaries before returning to the ocean to breed.
Why is the American eel Endangered?
Published assessments cite barriers such as dams, overfishing of young eels, habitat loss, and changing ocean conditions. See the IUCN Red List.
Last updated: