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American Eel Raise & Release
American eels are an important component of the Bay, both
ecologically and economically. Eels are a significant source of
food for fish, mammals, turtles, and birds. American
Eel Raise & Release Project Arlington Echo is excited
to begin a new project in cooperation with aryland !epartment of
"atural Resources, the American Eel Raise & Release Project#
$eachers will be
raising American Eels from the %glass eel% stage to %eler% stage
during the spring of '(()#
$eachers & *tudents will be+
• Attending an American Eel inserice in !ecember or
-anuary
•*etting up an eel tan in the classroom
• aing Brine *hrimp and feeding elers daily
• /earning tan maintenance
• Research projects with elers and the mysteries of the *argasso
*ea
• 0bsere and study stages of eel deelopment
• Educate other classes about eels
• Release yellow eels into a fresh water stream in ay or
-une
Why American Eels?
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1nown for their slimy, snaelie appearance, many American Eels
call the 2hesapeae Bay and its many tributaries home. 3loating from
the *argasso *ea, small %glass eels%
swim towards the "orth American coast to find fresh water
streams where they grow and thrie. 4t is here where the American
Eel is finding its greatest challenge. 5abitat loss,
oerfishing, dams blocing fresh water streams, and water
pollution are all contributing to their challenging migration.
5istorically in the 2hesapeae Bay, the American eel was
harested by eelers and sold to both the European and Asian maret
or used as crab bait. $oday, the American Eel population is belieed
to be decliing in some areas on the
east coast, but is not warranted to be on the threatened or
endangered species list.
American eels are an important component of the Bay, both
ecologically and economically. Eels are a significant source of
food for fish, mammals, turtles, and birds. ost eels
caught in the 2hesapeae Bay are exported to support the large
demand as a faorite food for people in Europe and Asia. 5oweer,
American Eels still hae many mysteries
that we hae still not uncoered.
Project Time line
Month Task
August 2hesapeae 2onnections 6orshop
"oember *chedule inserice date & materials
list
!ecember & -anuary Attend 4nserice
3ebruary *et up tan & 2lassroom
presentations
arch Receie glass eels
arch ay7-une Raise elers
ay7-une Release elers
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American Eel
Anguilla rostrata
8$he American eel has pectoral fins and a ery long, continuous
fin which is the dorsal fin, anal fin, and tail fin combined.
Adults usually white or lightcolored below and
brownish to blueblac aboe, but coloration is ariable.
8*i9e+ Eels range in si9e from ' inches to oer : feet long. $he
females are much larger than the males.
8 !istribution+ ;reenland south along the Atlantic coast of
2anada and the
