Scientists Quantify Massive Eel Gathering in Australian Waters

Scientists have counted over 2 million eels at Patience Seamount, an underwater mountain in Australia's Huon Marine Park off the coast of Tasmania.

This annual gathering of basketwork eels (Diastobranchus capensis) is one of the largest known aggregations of eels in the world. The eels are believed to gather to spawn, although the exact reasons for this behavior are not yet fully understood.

The exact number of eels has never been quantified before. The scientists used a combination of sonar technology and underwater cameras to estimate the population.

Patience Seamount is a significant site for marine life, and the gathering of eels is a remarkable natural phenomenon. The eels travel long distances to reach the seamount, with some eels swimming from as far as 1,000 kilometers away.

This discovery highlights the importance of protecting marine environments and the need for further research into the behavior and migration patterns of these eels.