Sand eel

Sand eel

Sand eel or sandeel is the common name used for a considerable number of species of fish. Most of them are sea fish of the genera "Hyperoplus" (greater sandeels), "Gymnammodytes" or "Ammodytes". Many species are found off the western coasts of Europe from Spain to Scotland, and in the Mediterranean and Baltic Seas.

The three genera listed above all fall within the family Ammodytidae, the sandlances. Members of these genera found in other oceans are not usually called Sand Eels, and species from other parts of the world that are known as sandeels are usually less closely related. None of the Sand Eels are related to the true eels.

Sandeels are an important food source for diving birds, including puffins and shags.

Sandeels burrow in the sand to escape from predators.

Commercial fishing

Traditionally they have been little exploited for human food, but are a major target of "industrial fishing" for animal feed and fertilizer. Increasing fishing of them is thought to be causing problems for some of their natural predators, especially the auks which take them in deeper water.

An instance of this was the RSPB linking a population crash of sea birds in the North Sea to fishing for sand eels. This led to political pressure for the closure of this fishery; the seabird populations subsequently improved. However, a second population crash of seabirds which occurred with no effect on the stocks of sand eel, cast doubt on this link.

ee also

*Environmental effects of fishing

External links

* [http://www.eurofish.dk/indexSub.php?id=3092&easysitestatid=969498944 Eurofish: "Sandeel provide the backbone for industrial fishery"]
* [http://archive.greenpeace.org/comms/cbio/hoover.html Greenpeace: "Industrial "Hoover" Fishing"]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Sand eel — Sand Sand, n. [AS. sand; akin to D. zand, G. sand, OHG. sant, Icel. sandr, Dan. & Sw. sand, Gr. ?.] 1. Fine particles of stone, esp. of siliceous stone, but not reduced to dust; comminuted stone in the form of loose grains, which are not coherent …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sand eel — n. SAND LANCE …   English World dictionary

  • sand eel — noun very small silvery eellike schooling fishes that burrow into sandy beaches • Syn: ↑sand lance, ↑sand launce, ↑launce • Hypernyms: ↑spiny finned fish, ↑acanthopterygian • Member Holonyms: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • sand eel — /ˈsænd il/ (say sand eel) noun (plural sand eel or sand eels) an elongate fish of the family Ammodytidae, which burrows in sand. Also, sand launce. Usage: For variation in the plural inflection, see note at fish1 …  

  • sand eel — Lant Lant, n. [Cf. {Lance}.] (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of several species of small, slender, marine fishes of the genus {Ammedytes}. The common European species ({Ammedytes tobianus}) and the American species ({Ammedytes Americanus}) live on sandy… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sand eel — 1. See sand lance. 2. New Zealand. sandfish (def. 2). [1275 1325; ME sandel; see SAND, EEL] * * * …   Universalium

  • sand eel — paprastoji arkliagalvė statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Gonorynchus gonorynchus angl. beaked sandfish; sand eel rus. обыкновенный гоноринх; обыкновенный конорыл ryšiai: platesnis terminas –… …   Žuvų pavadinimų žodynas

  • sand eel — type of small fish that resembles an eel …   English contemporary dictionary

  • sand eel — noun see sand lance …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • sand eel — noun a small elongated marine fish living in shallow waters, often found burrowing in the sand. [Ammodytes tobianus and other species.] …   English new terms dictionary

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