Aquaculture and Jonathan Riley

Published on June 11, 2011
Published on June 11, 2011
Jonathan Riley As Simple as That

The people and communities of Digby Neck and Islands have challenges, including a lack of health care and policing, a declining population, closing schools and a ferry service that sometimes leaves you stranded.

Now along comes a company from New Brunswick, a company that calls itself “the largest fully integrated and independent salmon farming company in North America.”

And they say, “we have the answers, we have jobs.”

And as it turns out, the people of the Islands, don’t have any choice but to accept those farms and any extra challenges that come with them.

More than 80 per cent of the population out there signed a petition against the new salmon leases for Cooke Aquaculture. Eighty per cent is a clear majority, a resounding definite ‘No thanks.’

Despite that, despite articulate and persistent opposition from the people of the Islands, Sterling Belliveau, Nova Scotia’s minister of fisheries approved the leases.

Perhaps the biggest challenge facing the Islands is the paternalistic attitude of the provincial government. Any hope that the NDP would be different has vanished only two years into their government.

Now I don’t pretend to know more about fishing or the ocean or aquaculture or even big business than Belliveau does. He’s got me there.

The big difference between Sterling Belliveau and me is I went down the Islands to talk to the people there about their concerns. Belliveau said it was “more convenient” to meet in Digby.

It wasn’t easy for me to get down there either. I haven’t got a car yet and had to borrow one from a friend, cause I thought the story was that important. I’m pretty sure the minister has a car.

Like Belliveau, when he met them in Digby, I couldn’t give the fishermen and concerned citizens down there any answers. But I went back to Digby and asked those questions to Cooke Aquaculture and to the minister.

They are getting me the answers, they say. Cooke Aquaculture has offered me a trip out to see the site in Grand Passage for myself. I can’t wait.

But let’s get back to the challenges facing Digby Neck and Islands. The people there aren’t sitting around with their hands open, begging for help. They too are working towards solutions, looking for answers, trying to figure out their future.

They see in their community a lot of potential, a lot of positives, a lot of strengths. One of those strengths is a clean productive marine environment that has provided for their community for generations.

The minister says there is 13,000 km of coastline in Nova Scotia and lots of room for everyone. So it shouldn’t be a problem to find another site. He says the ‘proponent’ (Cooke Aquaculture) chose the site. Tell them to choose to another site.

It would have been as easy as that.

Fish Farms in St. Mary's Bay

Nova Scotia environmentalists upset by government approval of aquaculture site
(The Canadian Press) – 21 hours ago

HALIFAX — Conservation and community groups are criticizing the Nova Scotia government's approval of a salmon aquaculture project in St. Mary's Bay.

Sterling Belliveau, the minister responsible for aquaculture, approved the commercial operation this week, but residents and environmentalists say they're concerned about its potential to hurt the lobster fishery.

The Ecology Action Centre says there are also worries about the potential for the spread of diseases and parasites to the wild Atlantic salmon population.

Karen Crocker of the St. Mary's Bay Coastal Alliance is also upset because she says Belliveau didn't follow up on some of their concerns before final approval was given.

In an email, Belliveau says he has listened to the various parties and understands their worries for the area off Digby Neck.

He says strict conditions have been placed on the operation and the province will ensure there are no "significant adverse effects" on the environment and fisheries.