ERIN POTTIE
The Cape Breton Post

By Erin Pottie
Cape Breton Post
MAIN-A-DIEU — Fishing industry stakeholders are criticizing a marine protection consultation process, saying there isn’t enough details for them to offer any advice.
During a meeting organized at the request of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in Main-a-Dieu, Tuesday, about 20 Cape Breton fishermen and industry representatives said they’re in the dark when it comes to details of a proposed marine protected area on the Eastern Scotian Shelf.
DFO’s Marty King and Maxine Westhead of oceans and coastal management division said more information will be provided to the community in January. They said there is no specific area in mind and did not provide what the actual impacts of the designation might be.
King also said the Eastern Scotian Shelf is the only region where fisheries officials actually consulted the fishing industry before picking an area of interest.
“You’ve got no answers for nothing that I can see up there,” said Jim Kennedy, owner of four fish plants in Cape Breton. “Who sits down and distinguishes how big of an area you take?”
As part of the marine protected area selection process, the department is considering three areas: Middle Bank, Misaine Bank & Eastern Shoal and St. Anns Bank.
Only one area will be selected as the region’s conversation site and designation doesn’t necessarily mean closing fisheries, but it could mean tighter management or alternative fishing methods.
“At least you could have some sort of criteria or something in place so that at least we could say ‘yes we don’t want that, no we don’t want that,’” said Kennedy. “No one can give you any answers because you’ve got nothing.”
Josephine Kennedy, representative for multi-species license holders in fishing Area 23, said the department should have more information available by now.
“You’re saying that our next meeting… that you’re going to have eco and socio-economic data for us, that data should of been presented to us today,” said Kennedy. “You’re trying to shove something down our throats that’s going to affect a lot of livelihoods along this coast.”
Kennedy also asked to speak with the people who decided on the three proposed areas.
She was told those areas were selected using a computer program.
“It’s pretty obvious,” said lobster fisherman Derrick Wadden. “They had 15 sites and they (picked) three that were off our coastline. It’s pretty obvious what’s going on here.”
Initial plans called for a 60-day consultation period which was later extended to 120 days with a deadline of Feb.12, 2010. DFO says a recommended area is expected to be announced early next year.

epottie@cbpost.com