Why American Eels?
Known for their slimy, snake-like appearance, many American Eels call the Chesapeake Bay and its many tributaries home. Floating from the Sargasso Sea, small “glass eels” swim towards the North American coast to find fresh water streams where they grow and thrive. It is here where the American Eel is finding its greatest challenge. Habitat loss, overfishing, dams blocking fresh water streams, and water pollution are all contributing to their challenging migration. Historically in the Chesapeake Bay, the American eel was harvested by eelers and sold to both the European and Asian market or used as crab bait. Today, the American Eel population is believed to be decliing in some areas on the east coast, but is not warranted to be on the threatened or endangered species list. American eels are an important component of the Bay, both ecologically and economically. Eels are a significant source of food for fish, mammals, turtles, and birds. Most eels caught in the Chesapeake Bay are exported
