L E T T E R S T O T H E E D I T O R
Ready, Fire, Aim
Lobstermen and Fish Pens
Nova Scotia’s coastal communities are renewing their call for an immediate moratorium on the expansion of open net pen aquaculture. This demand comes on the heels of the announcement by Sterling Belliveau, Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister, on the formation of a new committee to develop new aquaculture regulations in 2014.
“For years now, Minister Belliveau has been telling lobster fishermen around the province they will be protected by the regulations in place,” says Karen Crocker of St. Mary’s Bay Coastal Alliance, “Now we are hearing that the existing regulatory process is inadequate.” “Where does that leave fishing communities where sites already exist? Why would the government admit they are doing it wrong but still continue to expand and stock sites?”
Community advocates are questioning the need for yet another committee, when the Cohen Commission and the Senate Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture have recently released their findings.
“Over 20 years of scientific data on the effects of open net pen aquaculture, including the findings of 2 federal commissions have been available to the Dexter government. Spending 18 more months and another $300,000 dollars of taxpayers money on top of the $26 million dollars given to Cooke Aquaculture is nothing short of irresponsible,” says Bill Williams of the Association for the Preservation of the Eastern Shore, “Why has years of community input and science been ignored ?”
The East Coast Environmental Law (ECELAW) report on aquaculture released on Friday May 3, points to the absence of comprehensive regulatory processes in Nova Scotia.
In the meantime, 2 new sites are being developed in Jordan Bay without the application of available Federal government (DFO) science.
“The province has been unable to set limits and control the impacts of fish farms,” says Marilyn Moore, a Jordan Bay resident, “If they had followed the available Federal science to begin with, the Jordan Bay sites would never have been approved. Why do they need to wait another 18 months and also destroy another bay, harbour and wild catch fishery? Lobster, scallop and herring are some of Nova Scotia’s best managed renewable resources and should be of utmost importance to this government.”
“Coastal community representatives say that the province has now acknowledged that its Aquaculture Strategy is based upon a desire to support growth in the salmon and trout sector with no plan to protect traditional fisheries,” says Kathaleen Milan a Port Wade resident. “We have already seen the approval of sites that have not undergone any type of scientific environmental review, such as in the Annapolis Basin and in Shelburne Harbour. If the government is serious about protecting communities and the environment, they must immediately impose a moratorium on the expansion and growth of open pen aquaculture. They must get this polluting industry out of the ocean.”
Karen Crocker
St. Mary’s Bay Coastal Alliance (SMBCA)
Maine’s Unique Ways Threatened
Boothbay is not New York City or Boston. Maine has a distinctive rural character that should not be ruined by shutting down traditional and unique businesses in favor of banality, regimentation, and sterile order.
The only complaint here was for noise. It is easy to hire a professional to measure the noise level and determine whether this business should be required to apply sound remediation.
However, the unreasoning and strict enforcement of zoning laws, which seems to have happened here, is not in line with our unique tradition of encouraging unique Maine fine craftsmanship and boatbuilding activities.
I hope the leaders and voters of Boothbay act swiftly to save Stimson Marine, keep them in Burnham Cove, and to reimburse David Stimson for his expenses in connection with this unfortunate and uncharacteristic persecution by the town.
The opinions I have expressed here are based on the content of published reports. I do not know any of the parties in this case.
David Spector (retired)
Portland, Maine