Awaiting ARB Decision
The ARB’s final public hearing of TPCI’s applications for marine leases was held in Antigonish September 26-28, 2023. Dr. Peter Cranford, a scientist recently retired from the DFO finally had the opportunity to present and defend his work. Dr. Cranford testified that he is a supporter of aquaculture when done properly and in the suitable locations. His report can be found here. Dr. Cranford visited Antigonish 3 times between 2021 and 2023 and took readings of current speeds in each of the lease areas using modern, sophisticated, and calibrated equipment. He also took sediment samples beneath the lease sites. This data led Cranford to conclude that the lease sites were not suitable for oyster aquaculture and would be a threat to fish and fish habitat. This was the only site specific, documented data collected in the proposed lease sites during this application process. Neither TPCI nor its experts nor NSDFA did anything comparable.
NSDFA acknowledged that it never verified data provided by TPCI (which indicated current speeds approx. 3 times faster than recorded by Dr. Cranford’s scientific equipment). NSDFA acknowledged that it did not verify key data on which all the other federal and provincial government departments relied for their reviews of TPCI’s applications. NSDFA also acknowledged that it failed to follow proper consultation protocols with First Nations regarding concerns over threats to piping plovers and to submerged archeological resources from TPCI’s plan to drill over 450 anchors into the harbour floor.
A decision is expected in December and FOAH is confident the ARB will note that:
critical data in the application was inaccurate, misleading or simply wrong.
NSDFA’s failure to verify key data about the lease sites undermines the validity of reviews by other departments of federal and provincial governments.
Canada Wildlife Services stood firm in its demand for a 300 meter buffer zone to protect piping plovers (which were nesting this spring close to lease #1444)
A commercial fisherman, representing the other commercial fisherman who keep boats in and have fished out of Antigonish Harbour for generations testified that TPCI’s lease# 1444 will be a threat to safe navigation to their fishing grounds.
TPCI provided few details regarding its economic viability or assumed benefit to the NS economy.
TPCI’s plan to manufacture oyster aquaculture equipment is not dependent on approval of leases in Antigonish Harbour for demonstration purposes as its equipment is in use in Merigomish Harbour.
Based on these and other facts we are hopeful the ARB will reject TPCI’s application.