Eels’ trans-Atlantic migration, new research

This video from the USA says about itself:

Eli the eel: A mysterious migration – James Prosek

10 February 2014

View full lesson here.

They’re slippery. They’re slithery. And while they totally look like underwater snakes, eels are, in fact, unique fish that can breathe through their skin and even survive out of water. James Prosek tracks the life journey of Eli the Anguilla eel as she (yes, she) travels her mysterious “backward” migration from the sea to fresh water and back again.

Lesson by James Prosek, animation by Cinematic.

From Science Advances:

Empirical observations of the spawning migration of European eels: The long and dangerous road to the Sargasso Sea

5 Oct 2016

Abstract

The spawning migration of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) to the Sargasso Sea is one of the greatest animal migrations. However, the duration and route of the migration remain uncertain. Using fishery data from 20 rivers across Europe, we show that most eels begin their oceanic migration between August and December. We used electronic tagging techniques to map the oceanic migration from eels released from four regions in Europe. Of 707 eels tagged, we received 206 data sets.

Many migrations ended soon after release because of predation events, but we were able to reconstruct in detail the migration routes of >80 eels. The route extended from western mainland Europe to the Azores region, more than 5000 km toward the Sargasso Sea. All eels exhibited diel vertical migrations, moving from deeper water during the day into shallower water at night.

The range of migration speeds was 3 to 47 km day−1. Using data from larval surveys in the Sargasso Sea, we show that spawning likely begins in December and peaks in February. Synthesizing these results, we show that the timing of autumn escapement and the rate of migration are inconsistent with the century-long held assumption that eels spawn as a single reproductive cohort in the springtime following their escapement.

Instead, we suggest that European eels adopt a mixed migratory strategy, with some individuals able to achieve a rapid migration, whereas others arrive only in time for the following spawning season. Our results have consequences for eel management.

Young eels take over three years to migrate from the Sargasso Sea to Europe. They have to be careful to not be eaten by sharks, whales or sea lions.

Eels may not take most direct route in epic ocean-crossing spawning runs. Meandering swims mean some fish may start journey one breeding season, spawn the next, tracking data suggest. By Susan Milius, 2:08pm, October 5, 2016: here.