elver

An elver is a juvenile eel, a young Anguilla that has recently metamorphosed from the larval leptocephalus stage and is transitioning from marine to freshwater habitats. The term is most commonly associated with the early life stage of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) but applies to other eel species as well.

In the eel life cycle, eggs hatch into leptocephalus larvae in the ocean and drift with currents for extended periods. Upon reaching coastal waters, they metamorphose into glass eels and then into elvers as they enter estuaries or freshwater systems; elvers are small, pigmented juveniles that will grow into yellow eels and later into mature adults that reproduce in the ocean.

Elvers occur in regions where eel species migrate between marine and freshwater habitats, notably in Europe and parts of western Asia. They are often collected for aquaculture or direct consumption and can be a focus of fisheries due to their role in replenishing adult stocks.

Governance of elver harvesting varies by country. In many regions, elver collection is regulated with licenses and conservation measures, particularly because many eel populations, including the European eel, are under significant decline. Conservation and management efforts emphasize maintaining migratory routes, reducing barriers to movement, and regulating elver and juvenile catches to support long-term population viability.