Is the American eel an endangered species?
The American eel is not federally listed as an endangered or threatened species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973. In December 2004, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service announced their intention to consider extending ESA protection to the American eel based on available biological data. The two agencies conducted a status review for the species, which included collecting and reviewing data from various state and federal natural resource agencies, tribes, and other applicable groups. Based on this information, they found that the species’ overall population is not in danger of extinction. As a result, ESA protection is not warranted.
