August 31, 2015 — P.E.I. eel fishermen say they need a later start to the season to avoid finding dead eels in their nets.

The problem is the water in the warm rivers is anoxic, the result of decaying sea lettuce stripping all the oxygen out of the water.

“Eels get in the net and if the water where the net is goes anoxic, then they can’t get out and they succumb,” said Bruce Raymond of the Department of Environment.

The issue is becoming an annual problem that fishermen want to avoid.

“The first day, fellas on the river lost the whole catch, as far as four to 500 pounds on that day. It’s way too much to be throwing away. You never gain that back,” said L and C Fisheries president Calvin Jollimore.

Read the full story at CBC News