Eels

Elizabeth Nanticoke, Dept. of the Environment

The declining population of the American Eel is cause for great concern for Akwesasro:non. Traditionally, the species was not only a food source for the people, it also held healing properties that Akwesasro:non used as needed.

The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne’s Department of the Environment acknowledges and supports the efforts of the Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG) research into the Trap and Transport of American Eel. This initiative is OPG’s action plan for offsetting turbine mortality of American Eel at the R. H. Saunders Generating Station. When the eel are trapped and tagged, they will be released east of the Beauharnois Dam.

In support of this project, OPG has contracted the services of fishermen to trap the eels. One such fisherman in Akwesasne is Tony Lafrance. OPG has also employed one summer student to assist with the tagging and transportation of the eel. The student, Cindy Lazore, has worked with the tag/transport program in the past and has gained a lot of experience and knowledge about the species.

The following report describes Cindy’s experience with the American Eel project in her own words. I’m proud of the fact that young people are taking an interest in the environment and Cindy is one who demonstrates great respect for the natural world.

Eels on Wheels

This is the second summer I have gotten the opportunity to work on the American Eel Moving Project with Ontario Power Generation. American eels, Anguilla rostrata cannot successfully travel along the rivers because of water dams, which is where the eel moving project helps. My participation in the eel moving project is in the tagging and releasing.

The eels are caught by fishermen, tagged and recorded, transported by truck, then released in a new location. When tagging, the eels are first put to “sleep” with some clove oil, helping reduce possible harm to them from excessive movement around equipment and reduces slime transfer to those tagging them. The sleeping eels are then measured and recorded in circumference, length, eye size and fin length. The tag is actually a microchip that is inserted on the back just under their skin with a needle. Each tag has its own individual number that can be easily scanned to let us know if the eel was previously tagged before we tag and measure. If an eel was previously tagged we still take measurements and record all the data.

On transport days the eels are transferred by a “cube truck” which has a large fish friendly container complete with oxygen and temperature regulating tools. This summer the group I am working with transfer the eels to Lake St. Francis and Lake St. Louis. At the location we transfer the eels to their new water environment from the cube truck with hand nets.

Knowing I helped the eels get where they need to go is the same as when people help turtles cross the road, it’s a great feeling. They may not be fluffy and adorable but they are still important to the ecosystem and our culture.

Cindy Lazore