A Comparison of Body Condition and Composition, Fecundity, and Body Meristics Between Natural and Translocated Outmigrating, Adult American Eels, Anguilla rostrata, from Canadian Waters

From 2006-2010, ~4 million glass phase American eels were translocated from maritime Eastern Canada to the upper St. Lawrence River/Lake Ontario watershed, Canada.  Historically, adult eels emigrating from this drainage are greater than 800 mm total length but in 2009 and 2010, eels ranging from 570 to 668 mm were captured in the silver eel fishery at Kamouraska, Québec; subsequently shown originating from the translocation program.  Significant differences were observed in age, length, weight, and body composition between the wild and translocated silver eels, although no differences were observed in relative condition factor, ocular index, and gonad development.  Translocated eels had significantly less lipids per whole body than wild eels, simply a result of size disparity, but body energy reserve estimates compared to migration energy requirements indicate both groups have adequate lipid reserves to reach the Sargasso spawning grounds and spawn.  Energetic comparisons of translocated silver eels were made to the Maritime donor site silver eels.  Comparatively, donor site silver eels were statistically similar in age but statistically lower in body condition and composition.  Nonetheless, energy reserve estimates for the smaller maritime silver eels were also shown to be adequate to meet the rigors of migration and spawning.