Room 9 learning to love the slippery longfin eel

Room 9 shared a book with me in the library and we were all fascinated to learn about the incredible journey our native NZ longfin eels take in order to spawn their eggs in the Fiji Basin. The journey can take up to 6 months and the eels have nothing to eat in this time.

Oh no! We are trapped in a fish net! We will not get to the Fiji Basin. Rip! Yay we are free! We will swim to the Fiji Basin. I had 74,700 eggs! By Libby.

In this story, the eels must overcome adversity as they navigate blockages in their river and almost don’t make it altogether when they get stuck in a fishing net. Luckily the guardian of the river is overseeing their journey and they make it to safety. The eel larvae float in the currents towards New Zealand, finally becoming glass eels and then elvers as they grow into full sized eels.

The Room 9 children have created some beautiful artwork and some lovely writing to share their understanding of this amazing animal which is endemic to New Zealand.

The eels were going to the Fiji South Basin to lay their eggs.Then the mum and dad died happy.The little larvae travelled back to a river in New Zealand and they turn into glass eels and then they do it again. By Brooke

The eels go to Fiji. The babies follow every baby eel to New Zealand. By Luke

The eels went to the Fiji Basin. They went and they went and they went. By Otis

Eels you know at the river can be caught in a plastic milkshake container. By Amelia

NIWA scientist Don Jellyman has written his own great story which describes briefly the lifecycle and behaviours of longfin eels. Click on the link here to find out more and even you might grow to love these slippery little suckers!