Teachers, students, and volunteers are once again stepping into the Hudson River’s tributaries to help track migrating juvenile American eels. Now in its 18th year, this initiative—led by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation—provides crucial data for multi-state eel conservation efforts.
A Hands-On Approach to Conservation
The Hudson River Eel Project, part of the Hudson River Estuary Program and the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve, trains volunteers to catch, count, and release juvenile eels, known as glass eels.
- How It Works: Volunteers use 10-foot, cone-shaped fyke nets to collect the tiny eels.
- Data Collection: Researchers record water temperature, tides, and eel counts before releasing them.
- Restoration Efforts: Many eels are transported above dams and barriers to improve their habitat access.
Why Monitor Juvenile Eels?
The American eel (Anguilla rostrata) has one of the most fascinating life cycles of any fish species.
- Born in the Atlantic: Eels hatch in the Sargasso Sea and drift toward coastal estuaries.
- Hudson River Migration: Every spring, tiny glass eels—just two inches long—arrive.
- Freshwater Growth: They live in streams and rivers for up to 30 years before returning to the sea to spawn.
Tracking Millions of Eels for Science
Since the project started, volunteers have counted and released over 2 million juvenile eels into upstream habitats. In 2023, their data was included in the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) American eel benchmark stock assessment, highlighting the role of community scientists in fisheries management.
How to Get Involved
Eel monitoring takes place daily from March to mid-May at 12 Hudson River tributaries, spanning from New York Harbor to the Capital Region.
- Who Can Volunteer? Anyone interested in conservation, including students, teachers, and local residents.
- How to Sign Up: Email [email protected] with your preferred monitoring location.
- More Information: Visit the Hudson River Eel Project website.
DEC’s Commitment to Conservation
DEC Region 3 Director Kelly Turturro expressed gratitude for the project’s volunteers:
“Connecting students and communities with nature while gathering valuable data to inform future study of this species and its role in our ecosystem helps ensure New York can remain home to significant habitat critical to the life cycle of many migratory fish species.”
By participating in this long-running conservation project, volunteers play a vital role in protecting the Hudson River’s ecosystem for future generations.
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