Tracking American Eel Movements in the Bay of Quinte and the St. Lawrence River

Session: 08b. - Restoration of Native Fishes

Alastair Mathers, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, [email protected]
Dimitry Gorsky, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, [email protected]

Abstract

Since 2015, 191 American Eels have had Vemco V13 tags surgically implanted and the fish released into the Bay of Quinte.  We have learned that the survival rate of the tagged fish has been high.  Some of the fish migrate out of the Bay of Quinte.  For example, during 2017, 50% of tagged eels were detected passing Iroquois Dam during the year of tagging. Also as of December 2016, 4 of the 13 eels released in the fall of 2015 have been detected downstream of Quebec City.  Most (98%) of the eels that moved past Iroquois Dam did so in the dark. Movements past Beauharnois Dam were all after the start of October.  Eels were successfully tracked with VPS technology approaching Iroquois Dam during the fall of 2016.  Potential future work will be discussed.

1. Keyword
St. Lawrence River

2. Keyword
Bay of Quinte

3. Keyword
fish behavior

4. Additional Keyword
American Eel