Eastern Shore Residents Declare a Ban on Open Pen Salmon Feedlots in their Coastal Communities

More than 90% of the residents of Shoal Bay and Spry Harbour have signed petitions banning the imposition of open pen salmon feedlots in their inshore waters.  A number of citizens have also erected ban signs along Highway #7 where it passes through the two communities.

Shoal Bay and Spry Harbour are both sites of ongoing applications for large scale open pen fin fish feedlots by Snow Island Salmon, Inc., a subsidiary of Scottish company, Loch Duart.

A total of 184 people from the two communities (more than 93% of the local residents) have signed petitions banning salmon feedlots in their waters. The petitions declare Shoal Bay, Spry Bay, Spry Harbour and their approaches “to be an open pen fin fish farming free zone.”

Residents assert that “We will not accept any form of aquaculture for which we the residents have not been consulted, in agreement with or that will harm the environment, lobster industry, wild salmon stocks or tourism. “  Shoal Bay, Spry Bay and Spry Harbour “are to remain open to boat traffic and to be enjoyed by all residents as they have been in the past.”

Yesterday afternoon, a number of those residents gathered to be photographed by one of two large signs they created to announce their ban to passersby on Highway # 7.  That sign reads “Open Pen Fish Farms Banned. Over 90% of Spry Bay residents signed petitions banning Open Pen Fish Farming in their waters!” (The other sign announces that “Over 90% of Shoal Bay residents signed petitions banning Open Pen Fish Farming in their waters!”)

Brian Murphy of Murphy’s Campground  receives between 3000 and 4000 visitors every summer season. The pens in Shoal Bay will be right in front of his business and homestead of six generations.  “Our guests and children swim in these waters; they look forward to it every summer.  But if the water is full of fecal matter and algae blooms, that’s not going to happen anymore. I don’t understand why the province is intent on wrecking my business.”

“It is a disgrace to think that the government can allow this polluting industry to set up directly in front of people’s front yards and in the middle of their livelihoods,” says Georgina Hawes of Spry Harbour.

Premier Dexter stated on CBC recently that opponents to open pen salmon feedlots were just a small group of people.  These signs and petitions clearly demonstrate that these entire communities do not want this industry in their vicinity.

“We have not been consulted.” says Brian Murphy, “But neither the industry nor the government can have any doubt about what we think. We are citizens trying to exercise our rights here, and to get a fair hearing in the process. More than 90% of our residents are opposed to open pen feedlots. What part of citizens saying ‘no’ does the provincial government not understand?”

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Press contact: Brian Murphy 902 772-2700

Photo credits: Karin Cope 902 654-2265 karin.cope@gmail.com

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