American Eel needs Ontario's help to recover, Waterkeeper tells province

The Province of Ontario has received a Strategy report that outlines what the province should do to help the American Eel recover.

The Eel was once the most abundant fish in Lake Ontario. It swam from the Sargasso Sea near Bermuda, up the St. Lawrence River, and spent most of its life here before returning to the ocean to spawn. 

Historically, the Eel was an important economic and cultural fish. It provided food to Aboriginal communities and was the foundation for the early commercial fishery on Lake Ontario.

Because of barriers (dams, causeways) and loss of habitat from development, the Eel has virtually disappeared from our waters. 

Under Ontario's endangered species legislation, the Province must develop a recovery strategy. This document was published in 2013 and the public was invited to comment. The province's response is due within 9 months. 

Lake Ontario Waterkeeper supports Ontario's efforts to help bring back the American Eel. In consultation with Ottawa Riverkeeper, we developed a formal submission to Ontario. You can read it here.