What Else Is He Going To Say...

I find it a bit hard to believe that the director of the Aquaculture Association just happens to be an "expert" in bacterial contamination. But I might believe the Association gets some of their operating budget from the Federal Government and they just might be singing the same tune.... but if you talk to local fishers, producers and exporters everyone there seems to think it was a little "overkill" and it certainly hurt the small guy in their pocketbooks... I think the next time they come across this type of situation there should be a reasonable closure protocol with sufficient notice laid out for everyone involved prior to hitting the panic button... and I'm pretty sure there were a few people "put on the carpet" over this one...
Shellfish harvest ban in Maritimes justified: expert
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
CBC News
High levels of fecal coliform bacteria found in waters in the Maritimes justify the recent ban on shellfish harvesting, says the executive director of the Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia.
Water tests conducted by Environment Canada and the Canada Food Inspection Agency revealed "major pockets" of contaminated water around the region, Brian Muise said.
"The potential there to harm someone was real," he said.
The federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans issued the temporary ban on Aug. 31 amid concerns of bacterial contamination from run-offs following two significant rainfalls — Hurricane Bill and post-tropical storm Danny.
Harvesting bivalves — oysters, mussels, clams and quahogs — within 1.6 kilometres of the shore of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and parts of New Brunswick was prohibited. DFO has since eased the ban in some areas.
Muise said he understands the frustration that harvesters and fish farmers are feeling.
"It would be easy to say that some areas … that didn't receive the heavy rainfall, might have been able to stay open," he said. "But if you look at other parts of Cape Breton, all down the western shore here, south coast — absolutely, it's valid."