Lack of dredging blamed for damaged boat

MALPEQUE, P.E.I. — David Champion and his son feel they are lucky to have escaped serious injury after their 40-ft lobster boat struck a shoal Wednesday, Oct. 2, as they tried to enter Malpeque Harbour.

The two were unhurt but their vessel suffered extensive damage as it was swamped by waves and pushed to deeper water off the shoal.

Their boat was taken back to shore by another fisherman, Kensington resident Glen Tuplin, who was joined by as many as half a dozen other vessels —some carrying pumps.

“I didn’t do anything anyone else wouldn’t have done,” said Tuplin. “We look after each other.”

Other fishers helped Tuplin keep his vessel righted while he helped Champion.

“We weren’t hurt, but we were soaked,” said a grateful Champion, who estimates his vessel sustained $10,000 to $15,000 worth of damage.

He also lost a significant haul of rock crab.

“The boat can be fixed up,” said Champion, adding the motor needs to be flushed out and “The electronics are frigged.”

But what is even more frustrating about the near-tragedy is that he and other fishers have been warning for years about lack of dredging in the channel.

Tuplin agreed, adding the channel should be dredged more often and more extensively.

The channel has to be dredged at least a couple of times a year because the sand always drifts back.

“We knew it was going to happen sooner or later,” said Champion.

He blamed the federal election for a freeze on dredging operations this summer.

George Mallett, president of the Malpeque Harbour Authority, said he’s heard that, too.

He went on to say the harbour “should be dredged and kept open. No fishermen should have to go through this” just to earn a living.

Lois Drummond, manager of the Malpeque Harbour Authority, said a snag with the tendering for the contract may have delayed the work for a short period of time.

A Tignish contractor was given the contract last Wednesday.

The dredging equipment is slated to arrive today, and work could start almost immediately, if the weather is favourable.

Drummond confirmed a study was being done on the harbour by a consulting company hired by Small Craft and Harbours to find a long-term solution to the dilemma.