This past winter, our Coastal Environmental Baseline Project partners Miawpukek Mi’kamawey Mawi’omi were out the ice collecting environmental-DNA samples to better understand American eel overwintering habitat. The eel spearing and eDNA sampling sessions were performed at Little River by field technicians Jordan John and Sid Bennett of MAMKA and Levi Burt and Chad Willcott of MFN’s Department of Natural Resources.

eDNA or environmental DNA is collected by filtering water through a fine filter that traps genetic material in the water column. Our samples are now at eDNAtec for analysis!

From eDNA analysis we stand to gain valuable information on American eel overwintering habitat use. The Bay D’Espoir region has seen warmer winter temperatures which could have impact on American eel overwintering and behaviours. This information is important to our partner MAMKA, as the Mi’kmaq peoples of insular Newfoundland have traditionally and continue to fish for eels through winter spearing efforts and shifts in overwintering habitat of American eels are crucial to understand to allow for the continuation of successful winter eel spearing.

Furthermore, we will gain information on evidence of American eel and European eel breeding which is an important piece of information to better understand both American and European eel species reproductive ecology.

This project is in partnership with Sem Ltd. and MAMKA and is funded by Fisheries and Oceans Canada through the Coastal Environmental Baseline Program.