{"id":5501,"date":"2018-10-18T10:27:33","date_gmt":"2018-10-18T10:27:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.cwf-fcf.org\/?p=5501"},"modified":"2018-10-22T20:03:55","modified_gmt":"2018-10-22T20:03:55","slug":"how-we-took-positive-steps-in-helping-the-american-eel-this-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.cwf-fcf.org\/index.php\/en\/how-we-took-positive-steps-in-helping-the-american-eel-this-summer\/","title":{"rendered":"How We Took Positive Steps in Helping the American Eel This Summer"},"content":{"rendered":"

Taking little steps to make big strides in saving the American Eel.<\/h2>\n

This year, the Canadian Wildlife Federation Aquatic Science Team conducted research on American Eel<\/a> in the Ottawa River. Our research has focused on the downstream migratory routes the eels take while passing the Chaudi\u00e8re Falls Generating Station in the heart of Ottawa.<\/p>\n

The owner of the dam, Energy Ottawa<\/a>, has gone above and beyond to protect eels in the Ottawa River by installing a new eel bypass which will ideally provide safe passage downstream\u00a0\u2014 away from the turbines\u00a0\u2014 on their migratory journey back to the Sargasso Sea.<\/p>\n

\"Photo
This research is targeting large eels that are ready to make their downstream journey back to their breeding grounds in the Sargasso Sea. Photo @ Robbie Morrison | Robbiemorrison.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At the beginning of the field season, we placed 40 acoustic receivers in the water upstream and downstream of the station. The receivers pick up the signals from the tagged eels and allow us to track the exact route they take as they move downstream past the dam.<\/p>\n

This research is targeting large eels<\/a> that are ready to make their downstream journey back to their breeding grounds in the Sargasso Sea. The eels caught above this threshold are implanted with a transmitter. This device sends out a signal that is picked up by the receivers in the water. Every eel that is caught is also given a microchip (like the ones in your pets!). This is done so they can be identified if they are ever re-captured. The transmitter also helps to track movements within the Ottawa River.<\/p>\n

Trap Netting<\/h3>\n
\"Photo
Photo @ Robbie Morrison | Robbiemorrison.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We spent most of our summer trap netting on the Ottawa River. We processed over 3,600 fish (22 species), but sadly, only one eel. By far, these were our most abundant species caught:<\/p>\n