Declining Eel Population in Staten Island

Staten Island’s eel population is experiencing a significant drop.

This winter has been unusually cold, which has affected the city’s American eel migration. Almost half of these elusive creatures typically make their journey from the ocean to Richmond Creek during this time, but many are currently facing frozen conditions.

This year, about 4,000 juvenile eels, known as “glass eels” due to their transparency, were collected from the estuary for the state’s annual eel count. This initiative allows students to engage by counting the fish in hands-on sessions and learning about these lesser-known creatures.

On Thursdays, local students visit Richmond Creek weekly for the count. In a recent outing, they managed to collect only seven glass eels, marking the lowest tally since they began their weekly sessions a month ago.

Richmond Creek is one of the final points on the eels’ extensive 3,000-mile journey from their birthplace in the Sargasso Sea, located just south of the Bahamas. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has noted the population there as “depleted.”

Earlier in the migration season, from January to May, it was common to catch up to 165 eels in one visit. Ecologists suggested that the decline in numbers was anticipated as the season nears its end. However, this year’s findings are far lower than the approximately 11,000 eels counted in Richmond Creek last year.

Despite this year’s lower numbers, Megan Eddick, a researcher with the city’s Department of Environmental Protection, mentioned that while variations occur yearly, the overall trends remain positive.

“It’s not time to worry just yet,” she reassured about the current counts. “The American eel population has been performing well since we began monitoring in 2008. We’ve documented over a million eels throughout the state, which is pretty incredible,” Eddick added.

She acknowledged ongoing challenges like habitat loss but expressed optimism about the number of eels still being caught each year.

The harsh winter and heavy snowfall this year may have led many eels to go dormant, slowing their metabolic processes and causing them to burrow into the mud. Eddick indicated that it could take years before any significant drop in numbers would raise serious concern among ecologists about glass eel populations.

There’s still an opportunity for students at Richmond Creek to catch, count, and release eels. On a recent sunny Thursday, students were able to spot eels swimming about in the clear water.

“As I was walking, the water was crystal clear, and I could see something swimming,” exclaimed Geordi Minchala, 11, who enjoys the program for the chance to learn more about aquatic life.

Donovan Lee, also 11, mentioned that finding glass eels is simple if you know where to look. “I’m looking forward to it!” he said eagerly.