A vocal opposition to an expansion of Liverpool Bay’s fish farm wants local government to take a stronger stand.
Members of the Protect Liverpool Bay group packed council chambers Tuesday to ask the Region of Queens to help them fight Cooke’s proposed expansion of the Liverpool Bay fish farm from 14 pens to 60.
Residents complained about debris washing up in their backyard, lower property values, and some accused the municipality of bowing to provincial pressure, with one member of the public yelling at the mayor before gathering her children and leaving.
The co-owner of a local business that gathers and sells seaweed as an organic fertilizer voiced her worry about the effect of the farm on her product, in both its quality and the perception of it.
Many of those opposed to the farm asked the municipality to become an intervenor in Cooke Aquaculture’s application for an expansion.
Because municipalities don’t control waterways, becoming an intervenor is one of the only things they can do, besides writing a letter.
But Queens CAO Chris McNeil says that could cost over $200,000.
“Once you’re in, you’re in all the way and the cost will get substantially higher depending on how many intervenors there are, depending on how complicated the applications are, and depending on how committed you are to it.”
McNeil says the municipality would have to call witnesses to dispute Cooke’s science, and Cooke would also be calling their own.
In the meantime, council agreed something needed to be done to show their opposition to the farm, with some taking stronger stances.
Councillor Brian Fralic referred to the fish farm as an ‘environmental disaster’ and said money should be spent fighting it.
Council is taking steps to write a letter to the province, but first must rescind a letter from the previous administration, which supported the fish farm.
No formal motions were made at the meeting, due to rules surrounding municipal council meetings.
However, Mayor David Dagley says they first need to rescind a 2015 letter sent by the previous administration.
It states council’s support for an expansion of the Liverpool site while also voicing their opposition to the Port Mouton Bay fish farm.
“It was relevant to the previous regulation and policy but it sets the direction of what the Region of Queens supports.”
That’s an issue that will be looked at during the next council meeting.
Meanwhile, the Protect Liverpool Bay Group has started a GoFundMe campaign and established an office in downtown Liverpool.
Story by Brittany Wentzell
Twitter: @BrittWentzell
Email: wentzell.brittany@radioabl.ca
