Park Works To Save American Eel
Former fisheries and wildlife graduate
student, Ryan Smith, 95 M.S. in fisheries science,
handles an American eel during field sampling.
The American eels, once believed to have a limitless population, have been in sharp decline in recent years, leaving researchers and scientists baffled. For this reason, much research has been focused on eel restoration. Ian Park, 06 B.S. in fisheries science, has been working on projects to restore the American eel population in the region.
As a biological technician in the Maryland Fishery Resources Office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Park is currently working at two dams on the eastern shore to better understand juvenile eel migration patterns and provide access to historical nursery habitat.
At both sites we are trying to create structures for eel passage that will allow juvenile eels passage over structures to upstream habitat, said Park.
Very little is known about the American eels due to their complex migration patterns, however, they are an important link in the ecological food chain and help to fuel the Virginia fishing industry. They have also been known to be culturally important to Native Americans.
Fisheries and wildlife science professor Paul Angermeier, who has also worked on eel restoration research, stated, The American eel is an important fish because of their economical, biological and even cultural implications. Historically, I would consider them a keystone species.
4/12/09