Conger eel, any of about 100 species of marine eels of the family Congridae (order Anguilliformes). Congers are scaleless eels with large heads, large gill slits, wide mouths, and strong teeth. They are usually grayish to blackish, with paler bellies and black-edged fins. Carnivorous fish found in all oceans, sometimes in deep water, conger eels may grow to a length of about 1.8 metres (6 feet). Many species, such as the European conger (Conger conger), are valued as food. The American conger, or sea eel (C. oceanicus), is a fierce game fish.

The largest species of eel found in European waters, growing up to three meters in length the Conger is relatively common around Cornish shores living amongst rock and hiding inside shipwrecks. It is rarely eaten and usually chucked back when caught by fishermen.

Sustainability Overview
Conger eels have very low resilience to fishing and spawn only once, after which they die - thus predominantly any captured eel will be a juvenile and not have had a chance to spawn. There is no specific management for the species but they are not actively targetted in Cornwall and fortunately they are relatively tough and will generally survive well when returned back to the sea especially when caught on hooks or in pots. Avoid eating.

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