Eyewitness account debated over aquaculture farm

It was by chance Dave and Kathy Brush dove in an area containing sludge, one-quarter of a mile from the current fish farm owned by Aqua Fish Farms Ltd.

He has since been talking with the Friends of Port Mouton Bay.

Brush has been diving since 2003, mostly in the St. Margaret’s Bay area, as well as outside Halifax Harbour, with a few dives in the Dominican Republic.

Although he dives for sport, Brush does assistant teaching through dive shops.

He said diving conditions in Port Mouton Bay have been the worst he has ever seen.

Brush said they are finding huge amounts of sediments and sludge along the bottom of the ocean, in some spots 34 inches deep.

Brush and his wife measured a perimetre of one-quarter miles from the edge of the fish farm.

Aqua Fish Farms Ltd. President, Ian Hamilton stated, “I can guarantee you the sludge does not extend that far.”

The province of Nova Scotia does regular testing on a number of sites, explained Hamilton.

If the province isn’t doing their environmental testing, Aqua Fish Farms Ltd. will use a third party professional to do regular sampling or videos of the ocean floor, he added.

Aqua Fish Farms Ltd. has been in operation since 1985, with eight fish farms in New Brunswick and one hatchery.

The only fish farm they have in Nova Scotia is located in Port Mouton.

Hamilton said the eight-acre site needs to be fallowed, which is the reason they put in an application for a second fish farm.

The site, “does well,” said Hamilton but there is an issue with the regulators. “That’s why we need to let it fallow for about three years,” he said. “This fish farm that’s there seems to be devastating the area,” said Brush. “I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like when they put another one in.”

Hamilton said the application process has been slow, causing them to miss the 2007 season, which was one of their goals.

It has been fairly stressful on their “home grown” business, he added.

Brush predicts the sunken ship, Mathew Atlantic will be covered with sludge if the 70-acre fish farm sets up in Port Mouton Bay.

Fifteen shipwrecks fill the Port Mouton Bay area, he said.

Hamilton stated the Mathew Atlantic would be over 250 metres from the proposed fish farm cages.

The sludge is not going to go outside the fish farm boundaries. “It just doesn’t do that,” he said.

Hamilton said the current is not a “big current” so the sludge won’t be floating all over the place. “It’s unfortunate that they continue to whip up support against the farm,” said Hamilton about the Friends of Port Mouton Bay.

Newfoundland has welcomed the fish farm industry, he said.

It adds “all kinds of benefits” to the area, he added.

However, Brush believes, “it seems shortsighted to bring in an industry like this that could do so much damage.”

Hamilton said at least five jobs are at risk. “And for what reason?” asked Hamilton. “The farm hasn’t caused any problems and the new farm won’t do it either. “Our company is more than willing to talk to people on the issues,” said Hamilton.

Call Aqua Fish Farms Ltd. in New Brunswick at 506-755-3241.