Fisherman tackles sea lettuce problem

A fisherman from Tignish has started up an Island-wide petition to help reduce sea lettuce.

Malcolm Pitrie, who has harvested clams for the last 11 years, said sea lettuce has been clogging up P.E.I. rivers and killing fish and shellfish.

It's forced him to move six times to different rivers.

There have been numerous efforts to reduce the problem, but Pitrie said it's time to be more proactive.

"My actions are to try to get something done with this, move forward with it," said Pitrie. "I don't want to put blame on anybody. Let's come up with a plan now. Let's get some money. If we have to get federal money, that's fine. But let's just get a plan going now and start fresh."

Pitrie's peitition so far has about 350 names. He's hoping to get 1,000 supporters and plans to present the petition to the P.E.I. legislature next month.

When sea lettuce collects on the water surface, it blocks light from reaching the riverbed, reducing other growth.

But the problem worsens when the vegetation dies. As the sea lettuce rots, it sucks oxygen from the water, creating what is known as anoxic conditions, which can kill all plant and animal life from entire sections of river systems.