Monday, August 31, 2009

"Only in Canada, you say? Pity...."

Without any evidence of contamination or notice to the industry Environment Canada convinces Fisheries and Oceans to close the shellfish industry in the Maritimes... "Only in Canada, you say? Pity.." and pity for the poor fishers and processors who will have to suffer the brunt of this decision... it will certainly give our American neighbours another opportunity to "question" the quality of our imports to their Country and help dry up another market... it seems to me that someone "jumped the gun" a little too early.... and after all the issues we had with our cattle, potatoes and soft wood lumber one would think that the economic impact would have been considered before such a major ban was imposed... I'm sure that there will be some who will applaud this "caution" for safety reasons.... but if Government applied this same safety scenario to the Trans Canada Highway where there are "deaths" and "injuries" everyday we'd never be able to go anywhere as the highway would always be "closed"... it will be interesting to see what the fall out will be from this closure but my guess is not that good for the people who make their living in this industry.... and that's too bad...
DFO bans Maritime shellfish harvesting
Monday, August 31, 2009
CBC News
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans imposed a temporary ban Monday on harvesting oysters, mussels, clams and quahogs from Maritime waters.
The closure affects P.E.I., Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
All bivalves (hinged mollusks) within 1.6 kilometres of the shore — except scallops — are affected.
Environment Canada recommended the precautionary closure because of fears of contamination after the heavy rains of the past few weeks, said Rick Young, DFO's chief of regulations for the Maritimes.
Young said this is the first time there's been a closure of this scale in the Maritimes.
The ban includes mussel and oyster processors.
"We were asked to take the precautionary approach and take the worst-case scenario. And now that that is being done, Environment Canada is moving ahead and completing an assessment to determine what the actual area will be affected," said Young.
"Once that assessment is completed, some time starting today, and should be completed by tomorrow or the next day we're hoping, then the closure area will be reduced."
Esther Dockendorff, sales manager with PEI Mussel King, said that consumer safety is important, but that a closure at this time — even a temporary one — will have a major impact on the business.
Tuesdays are one of the biggest shellfish shipping days in the province, she said.
Dockendorff said her company has never been affected before by a closure.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well, for myself I would much rather be safe than sorry - especially with shellfish poisoning.

Anonymous said...

Yes ONLY a Robbie Ghiz Liberal would have problem with a closure based on safety issues.

Tim you are old enough to remember the issue in the mussel industry a few years ago..how people died before they caught it?

Grow up..you must have few friends who are fishers and were whining to you last night at the coffee shop where you get all your political inside knowledge.

Bet your buddy Percy Downe would even support this decision.

Tim Banks said...

Well Environment Canada did a great job with Hurricane "Bill" predicting a week out that it was heading our way and they drove all the tourists away from the campgrounds and off the Island... I'm sure they could have given 24 hours notice instead of 8 days and we'd all went about our daily lives... and this is the case here.. no evidence of contamination... not one single case and they’ve "close everything"... seems a bit “alarmist” to me...

Anonymous said...

Yes but the provincial dept of environment doesd aily testing and the results are sent to DFO. Everything is fine!

Anonymous said...

It is not so much that we disagree with the closure of the industry, it is how it was done. No advance warning this might be coming. Just some beauracrat in Dartmouth that does not care at all about the industry he is affecting

Anonymous said...

This closure was not based on science and no warning to the industry someone jumped the gun and that person should be fired on the spot.This decision will cost the industry hundreds of thousands of dollars for someone that made a snap decision and will never be punished for.