Monique Hepburn, News Editor
Mattie Ellis of Great River, Hanover, displays frozen elvers used to prepare a local delicacy known as 'fryers'. - CLAUDINE HOUSEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
WESTERN BUREAU:
MIGRATING ATLANTIC eels, which make their annual run from the Sargasso Sea near the Bahamas to the Great River on the Hanover/St. James border, have sparked interest among local conservationists, who are lobbying to protect the species and its habitats.
The eels enter the Great River estuary as elvers (young eels) and move upstream to headwaters where they grow into adulthood. For years, the migration, which occurs during October to November, provided a staple to locals who reside close to the river.
Referred to as 'fries' or 'fryers', the elvers, which are sautéed with onions, pepper and pimento, are deemed a scrumptious delicacy.
However, greater importance is now being placed on the annual migration, as numerous countries, stretching from the Sargasso Sea north of the Bahamian Archipelago to the United States' eastern seaboard into the Caribbean and South America, are experiencing diminishing numbers.
PREVENTED BY A DAM
Recently, officials from the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) witnessed an eel-fare (brood) trying to make their ascent up the Great River but were prevented by a dam.
"We were facilitating a tour of the watershed when we noticed a foul smell. We took a sample and made enquiries of the residents who were harvesting the eels. We were told that it was an annual event," said David Reid, environmental officer attached to the Integrated Watershed Management Branch.
"My concern is that the dam is there and thousands (of elvers) are being killed by the intake. Although the dam has steps in place, there are traps, which prevent solids from floating through the intake. These traps in turn catch the eels."
Kimberley John, freshwater conservation specialist at the Nature Conservancy, said that efforts must be made to ensure that such an important part of Jamaica's natural heritage is preserved and protected.
"I am extremely fascinated with the phenomenon and it is a very important natural history event. Every effort should be made to aid the eels in their ascent and so it is important to keep our rivers free-flowing and free of pollutants," said Ms. John. "The life cycle of the eels overlap because they spawn in the sea and then head into the rivers, we must protect both environments. We need to help them on their way to completing their life cycle."
ADVERSE EFFECTS
She explained that activities like sand mining, which often go on indiscriminately, could adversely affect their natural migration.
Once the hardy eels reach adulthood in the Great River (say between 11 - 13 years) they head downstream en route to the Sargasso Sea, which they left has elvers, to spawn and die.
Dr. Karl Aiken, Life Sciences Professor at the University of the West Indies, said the eels' (known as Anguilla Anguilla or Western/Sargasso Eels) migration is a fascinating journey, and one which is known in the zoological world as one of the greatest migrations.
"It is like a Ripley's Believe it or Not because they undertake transatlantic migration from the Bahamas to other places. They only spawn as adults in one location, and that is in the Sargasso, and then return to the place where their parents came from," Dr. Aiken said.
Meanwhile, debates rage about the protection of the eels, and others, such as Mattie Ellis of Great River, are content on enjoying 'fryers' served with hot, steamy rice. She took time out to share her recipe with The Gleaner.
"Take a pound or two of 'fries' and scald them in hot water flavoured with pimento leaves and then set them aside. Next cut up onions, pepper and seasonings and fry them up in oil. Make sure it does not burn and then when the nice smell come up add the 'fries' and cook it like sardines. Then serve it with rice. It nice."
