Elver

Elver refers to juvenile eels, specifically the small, transparent stage of European eels (Anguilla anguilla) as they migrate from their freshwater or coastal habitats to the ocean to grow into adults. This phase, called the "elver stage," occurs after they hatch in the Sargasso Sea and travel thousands of miles to European rivers. Elvers are prized in fisheries for their role in eel cultivation and are often collected for human consumption. Their movement and population are vital indicators of ecosystem health, and sustainable management of elver harvesting is important to ensure the species' survival.