At a glance
- IUCN category
- CR · Critically Endangered
- Animal group
- Fish
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The European eel is a snake-like fish with an extraordinary life cycle spanning the open Atlantic and Europe's rivers. It is assessed as Critically Endangered.
Its numbers have fallen dramatically, and much of its life remains mysterious.
Range & habitat
Born in the Atlantic's Sargasso Sea; lives in fresh and coastal waters across Europe and North Africa.
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 to migration (dams and weirs)
- Overfishing of young eels
- Disease and changing ocean conditions
Why it matters
A once-common fish now in steep decline, the European eel links the health of the open ocean, rivers, and fisheries across an entire continent.
Sources
Sources for European Eel
- IUCN Red List — look up European Eel (authoritative status)
- Animal Diversity Web
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are European eels born?
They are thought to spawn in the Sargasso Sea in the Atlantic; tiny larvae drift to Europe, grow in rivers and coasts for years, then migrate back to the ocean to breed.
Why is the European eel Critically Endangered?
Published assessments cite barriers to migration such as dams, overfishing of young eels, disease, and changing ocean conditions. See the IUCN Red List.
Last updated: