Breakwater breaking down
Ingonish Ferry residents say erosion is threatening homes, fishing boats
Coastal erosion is threatening a natural breakwater located adjacent to the Cabot Trail, two wharfs, a wetland, nearby fishing vessels and homes.
Ingonish Ferry residents say storm surge has created an opening on the northern edge of their harbour’s sandbar.
“When the sea is coming in, it’s forcing more water into the harbour and causing surges,” said lobster and halibut fisherman Stewart Whitty, who operates a private wharf on the coastline in his front yard.
“It doesn’t allow any of the harbour water to get back out into the ocean, so with the pressure in here the tides during a storm are getting pretty crazy.”
Whitty said sandbar has been protected over the years by small beach stones, but increasingly severe storms have reduced the breakwater.
To prevent further damage to his home and a commercial wharf operated by the North Victoria Six Ports Harbour Authority, Whitty said the sandbar should be outfitted with armour stones.
He said in the spring when easterly wind and rain combine with melting snow, there is significant
flooding that threatens not only homes but natural habitat.
“I think it’s only going to get worse,” he said. “Every storm, that opening is getting bigger and more water is coming in and eventually this harbour is going
to be part of the ocean.”
Whitty said the coastline inside the harbour is made of sand, clay and mud — materials not designed to withstand such pressure.
Victoria-The Lakes MLA Keith
Bain has brought the issue forward in the Nova Scotia legislature.
In an exchange last week with the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Keith Colwell, Bain said the breakwater problem has been ongoing for the past five years.
“Over the past while, and especially the last few days, I’ve received numerous calls from concerned constituents about the situation concerning the Ingonish Ferry breakwater,” Bain said.
“The ocean water is now flowing into the harbour due to further erosion of the breakwater and is in desperate need of armour stone.”
Bain said the area is home to 17 vessels and serves as the geographic connection for area motorists seeking to visit Cape Breton Highlands National Park.
Part of the problem, said Bain, is sorting out which level of government is responsible.
“The federal government say it’s a provincial issue, the provincial Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture said it’s a (Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal) issue, and then it goes back to being a federal issue. Fishers and residents are left wondering who is responsible.”
Colwell responded by saying “most of the time” it is the responsibility of the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Small Craft Harbours, although he would be willing to work with Bain to find a solution.