OldBlackDog
Well-Known Member
Proposed marine park raises crabbers hackles
Cape Breton fishermen are concerned that a proposed Marine Protected Area (MPA) off the western coast of the island could result in the closure of the local snow crab fishery.
Bill MacDonald, a fisherman for three decades in the region and member of the Area 19 Snow Crab Fisherman’s Association, told the Chronicle Herald the association became aware the government was considering creating an MPA in the fishing region during a meeting with DFO officials last month, but said there’s been no additional information provided since.
Because of fishing regulations in other MPAs, MacDonald said he has concerns the $70 million lobster and snow crab fishery that has supported the small coastal region for many generations could be at risk.
MPAs are federally designated areas where human activity is limited in order to protect sensitive ecosystems and at-risk species. Certain portions of MPAs are often designated no-take zones, meaning no commercial fishing or oil and gas activities are permitted, though many allow for some commercial activity.
MacDonald said the association has been left in the dark, not only about the implications for the crab and lobster fishery in the area, but also about why the area is being considered at all.
He said while there are many endangered and at-risk species in the Gulf, the only species of concern specific to the region being considered is the endangered coastal white hake, which migrates through Area 19 to get to St. George’s Bay for spawning.
“We’re not an aggressive fishery, we don’t drag or anything like that. We’re just a trap fishery. I don’t know what they want to protect,” MacDonald.
Pictou Landing First Nation has a major fishing presence in Area 19 and Chief Andrea Paul said her community has received very little information about the consideration of the region for an MPA.
“We understand this project has been in the works for quite some time and the first we heard of it was at a meeting in Cheticamp last month,” Paul said in a statement.
Paul went on to say her community depends heavily on the revenues from the snow crab and lobster fishery.
The Area 19 Snow Crab Fisherman’s Association’s Basil MacLean said in an emailed press release that it is his understanding that DFO will begin the process of establishing an MPA that will cover one of their main fishing areas by March.
“There is simply nothing here that is in danger. It is clear that we are facing a fairly quick track to a formal MPA designation and from our understanding, all MPAs are primarily no-fish zones,” he said.
“That spells disaster for us with little gain for the marine environment that the government has espoused a need to protect.”
In response to a media request from the Chronicle Herald, DFO spokesman Frank Stanek confirmed that studies have identified Cape Breton Trough, which encompasses Area 19, as a potential area of interest and said the department is in the very preliminary stage of this process.
“Information sessions on the department’s intentions to study this site were held earlier this winter. The next step will be to carry out more detailed scientific analysis in the coming months to gather more accurate data on the study area such as the migration of marine mammals,” he said.
Stanek said the area is of interest because it is “particularly rich in marine species, including groundfish and marine mammals.”
Cape Breton fishermen are concerned that a proposed Marine Protected Area (MPA) off the western coast of the island could result in the closure of the local snow crab fishery.
Bill MacDonald, a fisherman for three decades in the region and member of the Area 19 Snow Crab Fisherman’s Association, told the Chronicle Herald the association became aware the government was considering creating an MPA in the fishing region during a meeting with DFO officials last month, but said there’s been no additional information provided since.
Because of fishing regulations in other MPAs, MacDonald said he has concerns the $70 million lobster and snow crab fishery that has supported the small coastal region for many generations could be at risk.
MPAs are federally designated areas where human activity is limited in order to protect sensitive ecosystems and at-risk species. Certain portions of MPAs are often designated no-take zones, meaning no commercial fishing or oil and gas activities are permitted, though many allow for some commercial activity.
MacDonald said the association has been left in the dark, not only about the implications for the crab and lobster fishery in the area, but also about why the area is being considered at all.
He said while there are many endangered and at-risk species in the Gulf, the only species of concern specific to the region being considered is the endangered coastal white hake, which migrates through Area 19 to get to St. George’s Bay for spawning.
“We’re not an aggressive fishery, we don’t drag or anything like that. We’re just a trap fishery. I don’t know what they want to protect,” MacDonald.
Pictou Landing First Nation has a major fishing presence in Area 19 and Chief Andrea Paul said her community has received very little information about the consideration of the region for an MPA.
“We understand this project has been in the works for quite some time and the first we heard of it was at a meeting in Cheticamp last month,” Paul said in a statement.
Paul went on to say her community depends heavily on the revenues from the snow crab and lobster fishery.
The Area 19 Snow Crab Fisherman’s Association’s Basil MacLean said in an emailed press release that it is his understanding that DFO will begin the process of establishing an MPA that will cover one of their main fishing areas by March.
“There is simply nothing here that is in danger. It is clear that we are facing a fairly quick track to a formal MPA designation and from our understanding, all MPAs are primarily no-fish zones,” he said.
“That spells disaster for us with little gain for the marine environment that the government has espoused a need to protect.”
In response to a media request from the Chronicle Herald, DFO spokesman Frank Stanek confirmed that studies have identified Cape Breton Trough, which encompasses Area 19, as a potential area of interest and said the department is in the very preliminary stage of this process.
“Information sessions on the department’s intentions to study this site were held earlier this winter. The next step will be to carry out more detailed scientific analysis in the coming months to gather more accurate data on the study area such as the migration of marine mammals,” he said.
Stanek said the area is of interest because it is “particularly rich in marine species, including groundfish and marine mammals.”
