Basin zones 2, 3 open for clamming

Fisheries and Oceans Canada announced June 12 the latest tests showed a decrease in levels of bacteriological contamination in zones 2 and 3.

The reopening coincided with a letter from clammers calling on the town of Digby to reimburse them for lost earnings.

Mayor Frank Mackintosh said the Clam Harvesting Area 2 Clammers Association wants the town to immediately pay affected clammers $150 each. The letter refers to 97 clammers who are members of the association.

The request is being passed on to the town’s insurance company and the mayor said any quick settlement with clammers would be unlikely.

The basin was first closed May 17 because of contamination blamed on spills from the sewage treatment plant in Digby’s south end.

Zones 2, known as Thornes Cove, and Zone 3, the Pony Road-Queen Anne Marsh area of the eastern Basin, were initially reopened May 29 after tests showed a decrease in levels of contamination, but Zone 2 was closed again June. Zone 3 was not affected by that change.

Zone 1, encompasses the western section of the basin, including Digby, Smith’s Cove and Deep Brook, has been closed since May 17.