Britannica Sources used in this answer

What happens to European freshwater eels after they spawn?

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American eel (Anguilla rostrata) — eel The American eel (*Anguilla rostrata*) is found in habitats along the coast of eastern North America.

European freshwater eels (Anguilla anguilla) are catadromous fish, meaning they spend the majority of their lives in freshwater habitats before migrating to the ocean to reproduce. After reaching maturity, these eels undergo physiological changes—becoming "silver eels"—and swim downstream to return to their spawning grounds in the [Sargasso Sea].12

Upon reaching these oceanic spawning areas and completing the spawning process, the adult European eels die.13