Island News & Views
General · 6th April 2008
Save Our Shores Group
The Sunshine Coast Community has prevented their shoreline between Wilson Creek & Roberts Creek (near Sechelt) from becoming a Geoduck Clam Farm. This is the 2nd application rejection, as Quadra Island’s Open Bay was also saved from a similar fate last year.
In addition, the Sunshine Coast’s Sliammon First Nation filed a petition in B.C. Supreme Court last May/2007, asking the court to quash the provincial government's decision to award three tenures to proposed geoduck clam farms near Savary and Hernando Islands. The legal petition, seeks an injunction to prevent potential work on any of those three sites.
There are a total of 10 communities resisting Phase-1 Geoduck Farms on their shorelines, including: Cortes Island, Quadra Island South Rebecca Split, Nelson Island near Jervis Inlet, Trail Islands on the Sunshine Coast, plus Union Point in Baynes Sound between Denman and Vancouver Islands.
More details on the most recent aquaculture decision announced March 27/08 by Minister Pat Bell: “…a submission by Discovery Diving Ltd., for a geoduck clam sub-tidal facility proposed off Wilson Creek on the Sunshine Coast, was denied. Amongst other factors, the site was rejected due to the sensitive habitat designation of the area.”
“Numerous parties were consulted on these applications, including the Canadian Coast Guard, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ministry of Forests and Range, Ministry of Environment, Environment Canada, the First Nations groups in the area, non-governmental organizations, the Regional Districts and the public.”
Quadra Island is still awaiting a decision on application #1411182 for a 20 hectare (50 acre) subtidal Geoduck Clam Farm south of Rebecca Split. Cortes Island is still awaiting a decision on application #1411185 for a 21 hectare (50 acre) subtidal Geoduck Clam Farm between Squirrel Cove & Seaford.
This is an appropriate time to request that government decision makers deny these applications due to: environmental issues, existing aquaculture zoning bylaws, residential neighbourhoods, island-based eco-tourism, existing oyster leases, endangered species feeding grounds, and Regional District recommendations.
Express your concerns to protect Quadra & Cortes Island shorelines by writing:
Pat Bell, Minister of Agriculture & Lands
E-mail: pat.bell.mlaleg.bc.ca
OR fax: 250-387-1522
OR post: Room 137 Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V1X4
Remember to send CC copies to your local representatives:
Jim Abram, Quadra Regional Director, abramfamoberon.ark.com
Claire Trevena, MLA North Island, claire.trevena.mlaleg.bc.ca
In addition, the Sunshine Coast’s Sliammon First Nation filed a petition in B.C. Supreme Court last May/2007, asking the court to quash the provincial government's decision to award three tenures to proposed geoduck clam farms near Savary and Hernando Islands. The legal petition, seeks an injunction to prevent potential work on any of those three sites.
There are a total of 10 communities resisting Phase-1 Geoduck Farms on their shorelines, including: Cortes Island, Quadra Island South Rebecca Split, Nelson Island near Jervis Inlet, Trail Islands on the Sunshine Coast, plus Union Point in Baynes Sound between Denman and Vancouver Islands.
More details on the most recent aquaculture decision announced March 27/08 by Minister Pat Bell: “…a submission by Discovery Diving Ltd., for a geoduck clam sub-tidal facility proposed off Wilson Creek on the Sunshine Coast, was denied. Amongst other factors, the site was rejected due to the sensitive habitat designation of the area.”
“Numerous parties were consulted on these applications, including the Canadian Coast Guard, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ministry of Forests and Range, Ministry of Environment, Environment Canada, the First Nations groups in the area, non-governmental organizations, the Regional Districts and the public.”
Quadra Island is still awaiting a decision on application #1411182 for a 20 hectare (50 acre) subtidal Geoduck Clam Farm south of Rebecca Split. Cortes Island is still awaiting a decision on application #1411185 for a 21 hectare (50 acre) subtidal Geoduck Clam Farm between Squirrel Cove & Seaford.
This is an appropriate time to request that government decision makers deny these applications due to: environmental issues, existing aquaculture zoning bylaws, residential neighbourhoods, island-based eco-tourism, existing oyster leases, endangered species feeding grounds, and Regional District recommendations.
Express your concerns to protect Quadra & Cortes Island shorelines by writing:
Pat Bell, Minister of Agriculture & Lands
E-mail: pat.bell.mlaleg.bc.ca
OR fax: 250-387-1522
OR post: Room 137 Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V1X4
Remember to send CC copies to your local representatives:
Jim Abram, Quadra Regional Director, abramfamoberon.ark.com
Claire Trevena, MLA North Island, claire.trevena.mlaleg.bc.ca
Plastic Debris from Experimental Geoduck Farm in Quadra's Open Bay