The federal government has announced its decision not to list American Eel under the Species at Risk Act (SARA).

This is despite decades of documented population declines. The following explains why we supported a listing, what this decision means for eel and the people who depend on them, and what we believe needs to happen next.

Why We Want the Federal Government to List the American Eel as a Species at Risk

The American Eel has been experiencing severe, long-term declines and the tools currently being used to protect them have not been effective. Populations that were once abundant across eastern Canada have fallen by as much as 99 per cent in some regions. A SARA (Species at Risk Act; the law which protects species at risk) listing would have ensured measures to conserve the species because the Act would require a coordinated, legally binding recovery strategy to finally address the major threats driving this collapse — especially with migration barriers and turbine mortality at hydropower facilities.

CWF believes that a listing should explicitly uphold Indigenous harvesting rights by working with Nations whose cultural, food, and treaty relationships with eel have been directly impacted by its decline. After more than a decade of inaction and repeated delays, a SARA listing would have provided the accountability, planning and enforcement needed to give American Eel a real chance at recovery.

What Will Happen to the American Eel Without Federal Legal Protection Under SARA?

Without protection under SARA and the resulting coordinated national response, the threats that have pushed American Eel to decline will likely continue.

Hydropower facilities are likely to continue causing mortality for downstream-migrating adults and blocking young eels from moving upstream because there is no requirement for industry to provide effective passage or mitigate turbine mortality.

Although the Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ (DFO) press release stated that the Fisheries Act will continue to protect American Eel, the reality is that these tools have rarely been used to protect this species.

Data from recent reviews show that many facilities harming eels have operated for years without authorizations, that ministerial orders have never been issued for eel passage and that monitoring has been weak, inconsistent, or scientifically insufficient to guide improvements. Without a SARA listing and without meaningful use of the Fisheries Act, the status quo remains, which means ongoing declines, unresolved impacts on Indigenous harvesting rights and little progress toward meaningful, long term recovery.

We Need the Federal Government to Act on the Fisheries Act

Since the government has chosen not to list American Eel under SARA, it should clearly demonstrate how it will use the Fisheries Act and other federal authorities in a way that reduces harm and protects the species. The press release from DFO committed to new actions, but no workplan has been released, and we know that relying on the Fisheries Act alone has not been enough to improve outcomes for eel to-date.

Step #1: Realistic Work Plan

The Canadian Wildlife Federation is calling for a concrete, time-bound workplan that explains how DFO will enforce the Fisheries Act at facilities known to kill or block eels. This should require authorizations where they are overdue, mandate upstream and downstream passage that is monitored scientifically and set measurable performance expectations for reducing turbine mortality.

Step #2: Oversight on Harvesting

We also want to see stronger oversight of elver harvesting and IUU (illegal, unreported, unregulated) trade and a renewed commitment to working with Indigenous Nations on stewardship and FSC (food, social, ceremonial) harvest.

If SARA will not be used, then DFO should show specifically how their alternative approach will deliver the protections the species urgently needs. The Canadian Wildlife Federation is open to work collaboratively to support that implementation.

Why Conservation Efforts for the American Eel is so Important

The Canadian Wildlife Federation is committed to helping American Eel because the species is ecologically irreplaceable, culturally foundational and deeply tied to the history and identity of many Indigenous Nations.

Eels once migrated in large numbers thousands of kilometres from the Sargasso Sea in the Atlantic Ocean into rivers across eastern Canada. This migration filled ecological roles and sustained communities for generations. Their collapse represents not only the loss of a species, but also the loss of food security, cultural practice, treaty rights and the health of entire river systems.

Recovering American Eel means restoring migration pathways, honoring longstanding Indigenous relationships with the species, protecting biodiversity and demonstrating that Canada can manage aquatic ecosystems responsibly. Fighting for American Eel means pushing for the integrity of our waters and for a future where conservation decisions are guided by science, partnership and accountability.

Learn More and Get Involved

People can play a powerful role in American Eel recovery. Here are several ways to get informed and take action:

  • Learn about the issue: Visit the Canadian Wildlife Federation’s website and the websites of our Indigenous and conservation partners to better understand the threats faced by American eel and the solutions available.
  • Support calls for stronger protections: Contact local MPs, MLAs of MPPs — especially in regions with hydropower facilities. This helps to keep the issue visible and reinforces the need for federal leadership and transparent action.

Your voice can make a difference to this keystone species.

Learn more at the Canadian Wildlife Federation’s section on American Eels or how we are working towards improving fish passages.