Fishing group expresses concern about oil spill in Saulnierville harbour

A fishing organization is concerned that a recent oil spill near the government wharf in Saulnierville, N.S., could make people sick and have disastrous implications for the province's seafood industry if it's not addressed as soon as possible.

The Canadian Coast Guard, however, says there's nothing to clean up.

On Thursday, the Unified Fisheries Conservation Alliance released video of fishing vessels along the wharf surrounded by oil. Tied to some of those boats are crates of lobster floating in the water.

"When we saw it, we were pretty shocked," Colin Sproul, the alliance president, said in an interview.

"We're really concerned that oil-soaked lobster is going to make it into the marketplace and make people sick."

Sproul said if that happens it could devastate the reputation of the province's seafood sector. Lobster exports alone were worth $1.3 billion in 2022.

"If I was in Ontario right now and I saw this on the news today, I would avoid buying lobster. And that's a big problem for everybody in the industry and everybody in Nova Scotia because [so much of] our prosperity is predicated on the lobster fishery."

The alliance is calling on the federal government to close the entrance to Saulnierville harbour and the wharf until the area can be cleaned up. They also want any sunken vessels in the area removed.

Coast guard assessed scene

The federal Fisheries Department referred a request for comment to the coast guard.

In an emailed statement Friday, the coast guard said it received a report of "possible pollution" on the evening of Sept. 10, and sent a team to do an assessment the following day.

"At the time of the assessment, CCG [Canadian Coast Guard] did not observe any pollution in the marine environment," said the statement.

A spokesperson for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Thursday they were looking into the matter in consultation with colleagues at Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

"In the meantime, we can reassure you that all businesses licensed by the CFIA under the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations must ensure their food products are prepared, treated, stored and transported under clean and sanitary conditions. CFIA oversight includes verifying and promoting regulatory compliance by conducting risk-based preventive control inspections, commodity inspections and product sampling."

Kent Smith, Nova Scotia's fisheries and aquaculture minister, said at Province House that officials in his department have been in contact with their counterparts at Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Smith's department has jurisdiction over fish buyers and processors in Nova Scotia.

Commercial fishing season 

The commercial fishing season in the Saulnierville area begins at the end of November.

There is authorized fishing happening in the area now as part of the approved First Nation food, social and ceremonial fishery. Product harvested with those licences cannot be sold, traded or bartered.

Representatives for the alliance and other fishing groups have expressed concern that illegal fishing is also happening in the area that is not part of approved First Nation licences.

They say the federal government is not doing enough to crack down on the illegal activity. Provincial politicians have also called on their federal counterparts to do more.

DFO issued a statement earlier this week disputing the suggestion that patrol and enforcement action are not happening in the Saulnierville area.