The Honourable Kevin J. MacAdam, Minister of Fisheries and Tourism, today released the results of studies conducted to investigate the health of lobsters in the Souris area. Several local fishers had expressed concerns to the Minister and District 1 MLA, Andy Mooney, that lobster on certain grounds in Colville Bay were not as abundant nor as healthy in recent years.
"Our analysis shows that there has been some decline in the apparent abundance of lobsters along the east side of Colville Bay, but that the decline has been underway now for a number of years," said Minister MacAdam. "We can find no evidence at all that the marine environment or the lobster resource in Colville Bay have been compromised, nor have our studies indicated any concern over the health of lobster in the Souris area.
A number of local fishers were concerned that declines in landings could be related to the effluent from the Souris Food Park and they requested that a study of the effluent from the Park be conducted. "These fishers wanted their concerns addressed and I made a commitment to them to do so," stated the Minister. "I commissioned a comprehensive investigation to look at all aspects of this issue."
In 1998, Jacques Whitford Environment Ltd. was contracted to analyse the effluent and oversee toxicity testing of the effluent and all cleaners used at the plant. Further to this work, specialists in animal health at the Atlantic Veterinary College were contracted to design and conduct an intricate test which involved placing lobsters in cages at two sites;
one within the area of concern and one at a control site outside Colville Bay. The condition and health of each lobster caged at both sites was analysed in detail at the start of the trials, and again after being held for eight weeks. A detailed analysis of current (1998) and historical landings from this and adjacent areas was also completed.
In summary, the results do not suggest there was any problem with the effluent, and the health of lobsters held in the Colville Bay area was not different than that of the lobsters held at the control site. Catch records show the abundance of lobster at this location has been declining since about 1990, which suggests the decline must therefore be related to some other factor.
"While we have ruled out several potential causes, it may be difficult to prove what is leading catches to decline in this small area," stated Minister MacAdam. "However, it may be a cyclical phenomenon and landings may improve in the future." It is also a plausible theory that in previous years lobsters have been attracted to this area by the solid fish wastes that flowed into Colville Bay from a number of local fish plants. This practice has been reduced over the years, beginning in the late 1980's and ceased altogether with the opening of the new processing facility in the Food Park in 1997."
The Minister indicated that he and MLA Mooney have met with the fishers and reviewed the results of the studies. "The fishermen are still concerned over catch reductions and are understandably worried about the cause. We have indicated that for our part we will continue to monitor effluent from the Food Park so that we can maintain the assurance that it is causing no problems," said Minister MacAdam. The Minister also indicated that he and his staff are interested in the fishermen continuing to report any irregularities respecting their catches and they will be investigated.
Minister MacAdam stresses the health of the lobster resource in this and other areas is of fundamental concern to the Province. "We have taken the concerns of these fishers very seriously and have conducted an in-depth investigation encompassing a full range of studies. In addition to considerable staff time and other internal resources, over $25,000 has been spent on expert studies in 1998 alone."