Canada adopts adaptive management to conserve American eel

The Government of Canada (Fisheries and Oceans Canada) decided not to list American eel under SARA and will manage the species under the Fisheries Act using an adaptive management approach.

• Main action: Governor in Council decided NOT to list American eel under the Species at Risk Act (SARA); DFO will manage the species under the Fisheries Act using an adaptive management approach to update protection and management measures as new science and Indigenous and local knowledge become available. DFO will continue measures to minimize habitat alteration, improve migration passages, increase sustainability of American eel fisheries (including the elver fishery), enhance science and data, and monitor effectiveness.

  • Decision documents will be posted on Canada Gazette, Part II on December 17, 2025.

• Background and implementation details: The decision follows public engagement and consultations with Indigenous groups, provinces, partners, stakeholders and the Canadian public, and a 2024 national CSAS review that found population abundance relatively stable over two decades. COSEWIC previously assessed American eel as threatened. Identified threats include habitat alteration, dams and turbines, fishery harvest, climate-change-related ocean changes, contaminants, and parasites. Canada is supporting an international solution at CITES CoP20 focused on data-sharing and traceability for eel fisheries.