A fishy questionnaire from Queens County
The following questionnaire appeared in the editorial section of the Aug. 28 issue of The Advance and, at this point, is garnering numerous emotional responses from residents.
Aqua Fish Farms Ltd. has applied to the federal and provincial governments to develop a 70-acre fish farm in Port Mouton Bay, Queens County and allow the current eight-acre site to fallow.
Area residents are overwhelmingly opposed, with support from outside residents as well, to the fish farm. They allege the current fish farm is already damaging the bay’s eco-system through sludge some claim spreads for long distances and flows in smaller amounts even further.
The company, on the other hand, says neither the current nor proposed fish farm is damaging or will damage the ecology of the area. A company spokesperson has also stated jobs and economic spin-offs (employees, trucking, purchases at local businesses) could be at risk for no logical reason and that the area is regularly tested for environmental degradation.
Therefore, we are interested in knowing if Queens County residents in general, not just in the Port Mouton area, are opposed to the expanded site or do you believe aquaculture is a clean, necessary industry that will create jobs and generate economic spin-offs.
Questionnaire
Are you aware of this proposal? (please select one of the following answers)
- I am not aware of this proposal
- Yes, I am aware of this proposal
If you are aware of this proposal, do you support or oppose the set-up of a second salmon aquaculture site in Port Mouton Bay?
- I neither support nor oppose it
- I somewhat support it
- I strongly support it
- I somewhat oppose it
- I strongly oppose it
- In my opinion, creating new jobs out weighs the minimal risk
- I’m not certain, but believe we should err on the side of caution
Why?
Any other comments?
Please give your name and community of residence? This is required to avoid numerous submissions from individuals?
The last question is: Do you wish to remain anonymous?
- Yes
- No
Please send your responses to The Queens County Advance. The email address is editor@theadvance.ca. Our address is P.O. Box 10, Liverpool, N.S., B0T 1K0. Our fax number is 354-2455.
Blair Davis
Comment online since September 5th 2007What better way to hear the voice of the people than this.I think the amount of pollution and destruction the current fish farm has created is outrageous.It's time for the Government to acknowledge that Port Mouton Bay is a not suitable site location and put and end to this continual harassment and torture of a community. Surely any political strategist realizes their own fate is controlled by the will of the people. I wonder how many people are against this fish farm? I also wonder how many votes will it take to win a riding? I can't wait to see the results of both. What a Great Editorial with Edge. Good Job