Towards a downstream passage solution for out-migrating American eel (Anguilla rostrata) on the St. Lawrence River

Myxidium zealandicum Hine, 1975 is described from gills and kidney of the North American eel Anguilla rostrata collected from the St. Lawrence River near Quebec City and Cornwall. Cysts of M. zealandicum on gills measured up to 1 by 2 mm and in kidneys up to 15 by 20 mm. In addition to single spherical cysts, several polymorphous forms were also observed on the gills. Polymorphous cysts were not found in the kidney. Different stages of spore development were evident in gill cysts and were differentiated by means of a lead hematoxylin – fast green stain. Number and pattern of spore striations were examined by scanning electron microscopy and were highly variable. The invasion of the parasite into kidney tissue appeared to result in less physiological damage to the host than did gill invasion. The existence of this parasite, previously found in eel species in New Zealand, in a North American eel species is discussed.

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Abundance and individual size of American eel (Anguilla rostrata) in the St. Lawrence River over the past four decades

Hydrobiologia ◽

10.1007/s10750-009-9850-5 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 647 (1) ◽

pp. 185-198 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Yves de Lafontaine ◽

Pierre Gagnon ◽

Bernard Côté

Keyword(s):

Anguilla Rostrata ◽

American Eel ◽

The Past ◽

Individual Size ◽

St Lawrence River

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The Eel Fisheries of the St. Lawrence Iroquoians

North American Archaeologist ◽

10.2190/pt2v-3f1u-9kgg-klr7 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 97-121 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

C. Junker-Andersen

Keyword(s):

Great Degree ◽

Seasonal Cycle ◽

Archaeological Sites ◽

Anguilla Rostrata ◽

Late Prehistoric ◽

Resource Exploitation ◽

American Eel ◽

Archaeological Data ◽

Fish Resources ◽

St Lawrence River

Recent zooarchaeological analyses of faunal materials recovered from the Steward (BfFt-2), Beckstead (BfFt-1), and Driver's (BeFu-2) archaeological sites in Eastern Ontario have demonstrated that the late prehistoric Iroquoian peoples who inhabited the upper St. Lawrence River valley depended to a great degree upon the exploitation of freshwater fish resources. Among the fish species found to be of primary importance to these peoples was the American Eel ( Anguilla rostrata [Lesueur]). The author examines both the ethnographic evidence and the available archaeological data concerning the native exploitation of this species to reconstruct the methods used in its capture and preparation, as well as its role in the St. Lawrence Iroquoians' seasonal cycle of faunal resource exploitation activities.

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Nearshore habitat associations of stocked American eel, Anguilla rostrata, in Lake Ontario and the upper St. Lawrence River

Journal of Great Lakes Research ◽

10.1016/j.jglr.2015.05.012 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 41 (3) ◽

pp. 881-889

Author(s):

Megan H.M. Lloyst ◽

Thomas C. Pratt ◽

Scott M. Reid ◽

Michael G. Fox

Keyword(s):

Lake Ontario ◽

Habitat Associations ◽

Anguilla Rostrata ◽

American Eel ◽

Nearshore Habitat ◽

St Lawrence River

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Assessment of upstream and downstream passability for eel at dams

ICES Journal of Marine Science ◽

10.1093/icesjms/fsv106 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 73 (1) ◽

pp. 22-32 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

V. Tremblay ◽

C. Cossette ◽

J-D. Dutil ◽

G. Verreault ◽

P. Dumont

Keyword(s):

Statistical Analysis ◽

Habitat Loss ◽

Population Decline ◽

Freshwater Discharge ◽

Anguilla Rostrata ◽

Dam Construction ◽

American Eel ◽

Earthfill Dams ◽

Materials Used ◽

St Lawrence River

Abstract The American eel (Anguilla rostrata) population has experienced a marked population decline. Habitat loss resulting from dam construction to improve the control and use of freshwater discharge is one of the factors involved. There are some 5600 dams in rivers draining to the St. Lawrence River in Quebec (Canada). Their passability to eels migrating upstream and downstream has been assessed using the Québec Dam Database. Eighteen percent of the dams are used for supplying water and 13% for hydroelectricity, but >50% are used for recreational purposes. Although the majority of the dams are <3 m in height and are made of concrete or earthfill, dams present a great variety of physical characteristics. Passability ranks were assigned to each category of dam based on three assessment criteria: the height of the dam, the materials used in its construction, and its use. Passability to upstream migrants was also assessed from photographs for a subset of dams. The two methods (statistical analysis and the use of photographs) may yield different results, but the two methods were consistent to identify the impassable dams. This analysis shows overall that the problem of passability is more significant for upstream passage than it is for downstream passage.

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Eels at the Edge: Science, Status, and Conservation Concerns

Eels at the Edge: Science, Status, and Conservation Concerns ◽

10.47886/9781888569964.ch24 ◽

2009 ◽

Keyword(s):

Aquatic Ecosystem ◽

Sustainable Management ◽

Management Practices ◽

Lake Ontario ◽

Abundant Species ◽

Fishing Effort ◽

Anguilla Rostrata ◽

American Eel ◽

Commercial Species ◽

St Lawrence River

<em>Abstract.</em>—The American eel <em>Anguilla rostrata </em>is an important component of the aquatic ecosystem of Lake Ontario and the upper St. Lawrence River and historically has been one of the most valuable commercial species in Ontario waters of this system. Between 1984 and 1993, reported annual harvest ranged from 104 to 124 metric tons. Since 1993, eel harvests have declined precipitously in all areas above the Moses-Saunders Power Dam in spite of an increase in price per kg. During 2002, fishers held 85 eel licenses and harvested 12 metric tons (mt) of maturing yellow eel, mostly with hoop nets and trap nets. The numbers of eels migrating into this system in recent years suggests that if fishing effort remains constant, commercial harvests in areas above the dam will be under 3 mt per year between now and 2010. Provincial management programs have imposed license and season restrictions, reduced quotas, and more detailed catch reporting. Sustainable management practices throughout the range of this panmictic species will be required to restore the eel as an abundant species in Lake Ontario and the upper St. Lawrence River.

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