CCSEF Supports Federal Decision Not to List American Eel Under SARA

(Halifax, NS) – The Canadian Committee for a Sustainable Eel Fishery (CCSEF) welcomes the Government of Canada’s decision not to list the American eel (Anguilla rostrata) under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). This outcome reflects the best available science and acknowledges that the tools already available under the Fisheries Act are capable of meeting Canada’s conservation and sustainability objectives for this species.

The American eel possesses natural life-history traits that contribute to strong resilience, including its panmictic (single, shared) population, high genetic diversity, broad geographic range, and a well-documented rescue effect that supports recruitment across jurisdictions. When paired with DFO’s long-term management plan—built on river-specific harvest controls, precautionary reference points, and improved monitoring and law enforcement —the species can be adequately protected without a SARA listing.

CCSEF strongly supports the Government of Canada’s commitment to science-based management and a renewed, long-term management plan for American eel. We look forward to continued collaboration with DFO, Indigenous partners, and industry stakeholders for the continued improvement of eel fisheries. Today’s decision helps restore a stable and effective framework for safeguarding the American eel while allowing coastal communities to benefit responsibly from a carefully managed fishery.

“This decision reflects modern conservation thinking—using the right tools for the right species,” said CCSEF President Genna Carey. “With a strong Fisheries Act framework and commitment to law enforcement resources, Canada can safeguard the highly-resilient eel population while supporting the many communities that depend on this fishery.”