Aquaculture in Argyle was a hot topic at a recent council meeting.
A motion from councillor Malcolm Madden to halt 53 pre-approved sites in the Aquaculture Development Area until proper consultations can be done did not get a seconder.
The province and Argyle announced the ADA sites in Lobster Bay last year, the first of its kind in North America.
It was designed to take away red tape for harvesters faster, paving the way for more industry in the area.
The province and Argyle signed a memorandum of understanding for the ADA in 2020.
However, some residents are upset over a lack of public consultations, saying the chosen areas are too close to their coastal properties.
Six of the sites went to tender, and five applications were received, and the companies have until late April to submit detailed applications.
Once that’s done, there will be a public consultation period through the province.
Councillor Madden, who was elected in October says many he talked to on the campaign trail felt blindsided.
“I truly believe that all parties involved did not do proper consultation with residents that would be most effective by the business park at sea,” said Madden before making the motion.
Rocco Point resident Chris Thibedeau, who started the Association for Responsible Aquaculture in Argyle says they want to see the process done fairly.
“All the stakeholders have to be at the table to achieve balance. Balance is what we’re looking for, and it’s not what we’re seeing,” said Thibedeau at the Thursday council meeting.
Thibedeau obtained FOIPOP emails between the municipality, the province and a local oyster company, and said there were conflicts of interest through the process.
The Association for Responsible Aquaculture in Argyle says they want to achieve economic prosperity for aquaculture farmers, promote tourism and place commercial aquaculture farms in non-residential areas.
Several other residents also spoke at the meeting Thursday, showing concerns about how their usage of the water will change once sites are approved.
Bruce Hancock, Aquaculture Division director with the province was in attendance at Thursday’s meeting, and said Minister Kent Smith will meet with Argyle council at a later date on improving public communications for the other 47 sites.
There will be no additional calls for proposals until that meeting happens.
Hancock said they need to do a better job on communicating what it means for the community, and how the process can go forward in a way that benefits everybody.
In a letter to council, Smith stated he believes the public engagement that was done was well-documented, and it doesn’t mean they’re going back to the beginning of the process.
Smith added that Canada is facing challenging times, and the government is committed to making sure Nova Scotia is well positioned to meet emerging threats through responsible development of our resources.
