Aquaculture questionnaire elicits resounding no

In fact, the questionnaire was corrected by Summerville Centre resident, Jan Pottie, who stated the expansion involves 36 hectares, which is almost 90 acres, “not the 70 acres you report.”

Frustration over democratic rights is pronounced.

Port Mouton Postmaster Sandy Brown asked, “Why do we have to fight so hard to prevent this new salmon farm being in our bay, when virtually the whole community opposes it?”

Seventy-three readers of The Queens County Advance and novanewsnow.com responded to the impartial survey that opened with summarized views from both sides of the debate. Many used “we” to denote persons in their household so the number represented is actually higher.

However, it must be noted this was a questionnaire, not a scientific poll. This article will be sent to the company for a potential response.

Seventy-one of the respondents were aware of the proposal while two weren’t. The respondents are from all areas of Queens Co., and elsewhere in Nova Scotia in addition to summer residents, including Americans, and even academics.

Basically, the respondents alleged the current smaller site has already damaged the area’s fishing grounds, the larger site would further destroy them, sludge from the fish farm is moving around the bay and threatening the area’s pristine eco-system, including its beaches, and the “few” jobs associated with the proposed aquaculture project pale in comparison to jobs created by fishing, especially the lobster, Irish moss and rock weed harvests in addition to tourism.

Clyde Fisher, Southwest Port Mouton, said, “Instead of making jobs, it could and will most likely take jobs. These jobs bring more money to the fishermen and other locals and are renewable year after year, not short term. These jobs do not pollute the waters and are natural to this area. Can we in Queens County take a chance on destroying jobs while polluting our waters and beaches, all for the sake of profit for a few people elsewhere?”

Port Mouton resident, Geoff Smith added, “They do not even have the decency to process the fish here.”

The company, in past interviews, has denied the current site is hurting or destroying the area’s eco-system and that jobs and economic spin-offs are important. Aqua Fish Farms Ltd. didn’t respond to the survey.

Port Mouton resident, Elaine Roy described herself as a “fisherman’s wife. Why should just five jobs in this area make any difference when there are so many lobster fishermen that used to fish the harbour before they ruined it.”

Liverpool resident Fred Giffin said no regulations are in place to govern the removal of fecal waste. “A fish farm of approximately 500,000 salmon is like building a 70-acre barge for a community of 15,000 people, with holes in the floor to dispose of waste. The waste will accumulate, then travel to shorelines during storms.”

Many said flush rates in the bay are too low to remove the waste, creating “dead zones.”

Hunts Point resident, Anne Swim added, “I have also seen first hand the magnitude of green algae on Carter’s Beach, numerous intact crabs washing up and lobster catches spiraling down to nothing in the area around Spectacle Island. These are not coincidences.”

White Point resident, Marg Millard said she “was horrified” to personally view the damage in a glass-bottomed boat.

She also said government employees at all levels should be held accountable for their decisions and regulations improved.

She wrote she likes the term “tree hugger. Our earth is in desperate need of help to repair the damage we have committed over the years. Our government says we must use… a different light bulb. People, if we listened more to the tree huggers, maybe, just maybe, the messes we deal with wouldn’t be so catastrophic.”

Tourism, especially with the area’s growing diving industry due, in part, to shipwrecks, as well as boating, was also mentioned as an economic driver that would be threatened by the proposed expansion.

Divers have brought photographs and footage of the area around the present aquaculture site to the debating table. This was frequently mentioned.

Western Head resident, Barry Gibb said in-land fish-farming techniques developed in countries like Norway should be utilized here.

Many were concerned corporate dollars would push the federal and provincial governments to approve the project.

Beach Meadows seasonal resident, Christopher Shipley said as Americans, “We have sadly watched beautiful and naturally productive coastal areas in our own state (Maryland) be destroyed by politically powerful commercial interests for short term financial gains. What you have…is irreplaceable. Please recognize your stewardship.”

Port Mouton resident, Blair Davis said the current aquaculture site should also be removed. Others echoed this sentiment.

Numerous respondents discussed the “science, surveys and research” done by the Friends and other organizations around the world they allege shows aquaculture is harmful to the environment.

One scientist, Aimee Pelletier, MES Candidate for the Dalhousie University School for Resource and Environmental Studies, said her research entails establishing a coastal ecosystem monitoring program for Kejimkujik Seaside Adjunct.

She said, “Port Mouton is a shallow, low flushing bay, and therefore not suitable for aquaculture. In addition, the proposed site is adjacent to the Kejimkujik Seaside Adjunct, to which the threats are not clear.”

She added the “proponent” hasn’t provided any convincing scientific evidence to prove the existing or proposed aquaculture facility is or won’t be ecologically damaging to the bay. “Until this can be proven, we should err on the side of caution.”

Summerville Centre resident, Jan Pottie said, “Contaminated fecal/chemical sludge over 32 inches deep is not simply going to fallow. How on earth is this contaminated animal waste supposed to magically disappear?”

Liverpool resident, Doug Millar, without directly mentioning this aquaculture farm, said farmed fish contain antibiotics and growth hormones and are raised swimming in their own feces that also spreads to the wild. “I do not purchase farmed fish for that reason alone.”

He added in British Columbia, for example, the industry has killed thousands of wild fish.

Many said the Fisheries Act prohibits the “harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat.”

Shelburne resident, Gloria Gilbert said, “Protecting critical habitat and promoting aquaculture are contradictory purposes. The results show industry wins and the environment loses.”

Robert Ross and Mary Ediger of Port Mouton said the Federal Environment Assessment Review Act requires a thorough and comprehensive site selection process. “No alternate sites were evaluated. The proposed new site is not based upon sound science but rather on one of convenience for Aqua Fish Farms.”

Richard and Kathryn Gilbert of Liverpool, along with many others, stated, “A full and extensive Environmental Assessment such as are done for land based industries should be done for this and any other similar installation in our waters.”

Liverpool resident, Norm Jolivet summed up residents’ feelings about the company’s proposal.

“Rather than bully their way into Port Mouton where they are not wanted, why not ask if another community would welcome them and the five jobs they bring? It would be a lot less trouble.”