Richmond Creek's glass eel migration plummets amid icy winter delays

This year’s glass eel count at Richmond Creek has seen a sharp drop in numbers. Students helping with the survey have recorded as few as seven eels in a single visit, far below previous totals. The icy winter appears to have slowed their migration, leaving many buried in the mud. Richmond Creek is a key stop for juvenile American eels on their 2,000-mile journey from the Sargasso Sea. Since 2008, the counting programme—run with student volunteers—has tracked over a million eels statewide. But this season, only around 4,000 have been collected, well short of the nearly 11,000 counted in 2022.

Earlier in the migration, up to 165 eels were spotted in one visit. However, the colder weather has disrupted their movement. Experts believe some eels entered torpor, a dormant state that slows their metabolism, leaving them hidden in the creek’s mud. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission already classifies the local eel population as 'depleted'. Despite the lower numbers, students have still managed to spot and release glass eels during the count.

The final tally for this year is expected to remain far below previous seasons. The freeze in migration highlights the challenges facing Staten Island’s eel population. Conservation efforts will continue, with students playing a key role in monitoring their recovery.