Abstract:
The American Eel (Anguilla rostrata) was the most numerous fish on the Atlantic Coast but the population has been reduced from pristine levels as a result of overfishing, dams, pollution, invasive parasites and other factors. I present a work in four sections to provide a roadmap for restoring this species and habitat. Chapter One provides the most recent literature review on the species, including an overview of the anthropogenic factors affecting the population and potential mitigation measures. Chapter Two is a study of the American Eel fisheries in Maine and South Carolina based on published data and interviews with state agencies, commercial fishers, exporters and tribal fishers. Chapter Three is a compilation of data on American Eel in the mid-Atlantic region from 1911 to 2018, with records >3.75 million individual fish and a discussion on eel demographics over time and space. Chapter Four builds upon the dataset in Chapter Three to create a map of the watersheds of the Chesapeake Bay in ArcGIS to study the effects of dams and land use on eels. Results indicate American Eel are limited by dams and barriers blocking access to habitat, as evidenced by the high numbers of eels on the lower James and York rivers but much lower numbers upstream. It is difficult to draw conclusions however because of limitations in the datasets. The database is the largest of its kind, combining several biological and ecological factors and the GIS model presents a novel method for studying watersheds and migratory ichthyofauna.
