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Mapping silver eel migration routes in the North Sea

Recent developments in tracking technology resulted in the mapping of various marine spawning migration routes of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla). However, migration routes in the North Sea have rarely been studied, despite many large European rivers and hence potential eel growing habitat discharge into the North Sea. In this study, we present the most comprehensive map to date with migration routes by silver European eels in the North Sea and document for the first time successful eel migration through the English Channel. Migration tracks were reconstructed for 42 eels tagged in Belgium and 12 in Germany. Additionally, some eels moved up north to exit the North Sea over the British Isles, confirming the existence of two different routes, even for eels exiting from a single river catchment. Furthermore, we observed a wide range in migration speeds (6.8–45.2 km day−1). We hypothesize that these are likely attributed to water currents, with eels migrating through the English Channel being significantly faster than eels migrating northward.

Details

Volume 12
Tijdschrift nummer 1
Type A1: Web of Science-artikel
Categorie Onderzoek
Tijdschrift Scientific Reports
Issns 2045-2322
Uitgeverij Nature Publishing Group
Taal Engels
Bibtex

@misc{531652bb-eafc-4408-ae6d-44e181cae7a5,
title = "Mapping silver eel migration routes in the North Sea",
abstract = "Recent developments in tracking technology resulted in the mapping of various marine spawning migration routes of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla). However, migration routes in the North Sea have rarely been studied, despite many large European rivers and hence potential eel growing habitat discharge into the North Sea. In this study, we present the most comprehensive map to date with migration routes by silver European eels in the North Sea and document for the first time successful eel migration through the English Channel. Migration tracks were reconstructed for 42 eels tagged in Belgium and 12 in Germany. Additionally, some eels moved up north to exit the North Sea over the British Isles, confirming the existence of two different routes, even for eels exiting from a single river catchment. Furthermore, we observed a wide range in migration speeds (6.8–45.2 km day−1). We hypothesize that these are likely attributed to water currents, with eels migrating through the English Channel being significantly faster than eels migrating northward.",
author = "Pieterjan Verhelst and Jan Reubens and Johan Coeck and Tom Moens and Janek Simon and Jeroen Van Wichelen and Håkan Westerberg and Klaus Wysujack and David Righton",
year = "2022",
month = jan,
day = "10",
doi = "https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-04052-7",
language = "Nederlands",
publisher = "Nature Publishing Group",
address = "België,
type = "Other"
}

Auteurs

Pieterjan Verhelst
Jan Reubens
Johan Coeck
Tom Moens
Janek Simon
Jeroen Van Wichelen
Håkan Westerberg
Klaus Wysujack
David Righton