After Canada announced Tuesday it wouldn’t list the American eel under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) some First Nations people with cultural and spiritual ties to the species are questioning the decision.

"Right now it doesn’t seem hopeful because we don't see anything being done to help them," said Charles Doucette, fisheries director with Potlotek First Nation on Cape Breton Island.

Doucette has vivid memories of his dad coming home with a load of eels to hang in the basement to dry, preparing them to give to family and friends.

"That’s long gone," said Doucette.

"You'd hear all the stories about people using eels for medicine and feasts and that's all gone, too."

Doucette fished with his father around the Bras d’Or Lakes and areas in southern Cape Breton, but he said those lakes

See Full Page