“The eels turned red and blue and seemed asphyxiated”, describes Hervé Malcoste, of the Association approved for fishing and the protection of the aquatic environment (AAPPMA) of Quimperlé (Finistère), evoking these robust fish, usually gray and whites.
This fishing warden, sworn by the Departmental Fishing Federation and the prefecture, has been observing and acting around Quimperlé for years.
He noted, 15 days ago, the death of more than fifty eels between the Gorrêts dam and the point of confluence with the Laïta.
All in a very short time.
Never seen.
Drought or pollution?
“We took a sample so that further analyzes could be carried out, continues Hervé Malcoste.
The drought is one thing — it is possible, given the water temperature, which was much higher than usual, that they came too quickly from the sea into fresh water, and were victims of thermal shock.
But we are obviously concerned that there is something else — pollution, in this case.
That's what we're trying to determine.
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Due to an unprecedented drought in Finistère, fishing is now prohibited in first category rivers.
The same goes for the Ellé and the Isole, the two rivers of Quimperlé, which both experience a serious water shortage.
“The level is really very low, continues Hervé Malcoste.
But in any case, no one here has ever seen, in memory, such a sight.
The results of the analyzes of the eels sampled will be known in about ten days.