Fishing industry not ‘expendable’
It was extremely disappointing to read Adrian White’s opinion piece in the Cape Breton Post (“Measuring emotions against well-researched science,” Nov. 22).
As the CEO of the Sydney and Area Chamber of Commerce (SACC), White states that emotions of fishermen, processor and interest groups have overshadowed the well-researched science of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO).
Well, to that I can say that he can be forgiven for forgetting some local history.
It was DFO science that said the cod fishery was in good shape while the fishermen were telling them the fishery was in crisis and we know how well that ended. It was DFO who approved the seismic on the Glace Bay crab hole with the result that the crab was damaged (reproductive organs destroyed) and it took 10 years to recover.
White is basing his opinion on the word of the geo-science company who will be paid by Kameron Coal to conduct the seismic test to penetrate the ocean floor with air cannons. He also goes on to say that there is obstruction at every turn. Does he call asking questions obstructions? It’s too late when the damage has occurred. When DFO is questioned on a bad result they just shrug it off as ‘inconclusive.’ Not very reassuring.
White’s article, in my opinion, is insulting to those in the fishing industry (fishermen, processors, plant and wharf personnel). It’s as if we are expendable or we can be collateral damage.
The fishing industry has sustained our local economy through the closure of the steel plant and the coal mines. This industry has stood the test time when the Magnas and other big companies packed up and left. How many large companies left when the government subsidies dried up? The fishery in the three ports that would be directly affected by the seismic test (Glace Bay, Port Morien and Main-a-Dieu) employs approximately 600 people.
The fishing industry isn’t against opening the mine. The fishing industry has proven that it is sustainable and that it’s wellmanaged. We don’t want to put it in jeopardy. White questions why the local community hasn’t shown much vocal support for the mine. Perhaps it is because the local community understands the importance of the fishery to the economy.
White says that there have been many other objections to this mine from those opposed to the transportation, union representatives and who is hired or laid-off. The people have the right to voice their opinions. He tries to make a comparison with this issue to the controversary that surrounded the Ben Eoin Marina which is comparing apples to peanuts. There is no comparison. I don’t recall seismic being necessary to install the marina.
I suggest White talk to some of his SACC members to get a valuable understanding of the importance of the fishery to our local economy.