One of the issues that is being addressed by TREPA’s participation in the Coastal Coalition is the topic of aquaculture. Concerns related to ocean pollution, pesticides, impact on wild stocks, occupation of multi-use harbour space, and so on are legitimate areas of discussion. The coalition would like to see these issues fairly discussed and appropriate regulations and safe guards implemented. The persons to whom concerns are presented, who are supposed to be the impartial interface between citizens and corporations, our elected government, appears to have thrown in with support for the corporate sector. The government has set up a fund of $750,000 that may be used by corporations to present their side of the story to the public and thus influence governmental decisions.
Keep in mind this particular twist to the story. Sterling Belliveau (mentioned below) is Minister of both Fisheries and Agriculture (promotes and regulates those industries) and Environment (environmental protection). A case could be made that he has been placed by the present government in a major conflict of interest.
The Details as reported in the Chronicle-Herald
Public funding for aquaculture PR denounced. Firms can use N.S. cash to help image. By BRIAN MEDEL Yarmouth Bureau. Fri, Nov 5 – 4:32 PM
Some Digby County residents say they’re furious the Dexter government will pay aquaculture companies to come up with better ways of selling themselves to the public.
A government news release Monday, said Nova Scotians who work in the aquaculture industry may now apply for funding to help them increase productivity and sustainability.
But the preamble on the application form says “a factor limiting the growth of Nova Scotia’s aquaculture industry is opposition from people who believe, for one reason or another, that aquaculture harms the marine environment.” It also indicates money from the program can be used to improve public confidence in aquaculture.
“We were just literally enraged,” said Karen Crocker of Freeport.
She’s part of the St. Mary’s Bay Coastal Alliance Society, formed by fishermen, property and business owners who are concerned about a proposed salmon farm in St. Marys Bay.
The society has petitioned government for a moratorium on new fish farms and the expansion of existing sites. Members allege many environmental dangers accompany coastal fish farms.
The Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture has set aside $750,000 for the fund, the province’s news release said.
“We asked was there any funding available within the provincial government to aid communities in becoming part of decision making that was affecting them and we were told that there wasn’t any funding for that,” Crocker said Thursday.
She said they must rely on bottle drives and donations for their cash.
“Then we . . . find out that our provincial government is taking $750,000 of our tax dollars and turning it over to privately owned . . . companies and essentially giving them money to help them fight public opposition to projects. It’s mind boggling.”
“This industry has great potential,” Sterling Belliveau, the province’s fisheries minister, said in the release.
The money will help the growing aquaculture industry become more competitive, he said.
No applications for the funds had been received by Thursday afternoon, a department spokeswoman said. The deadline for applications is November 22.
The value of all 2009 aquaculture products in Nova Scotia was about $58 million, Belliveau said.
