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The Progressive Conservative government is tearing up a memorandum of understanding that could have created a National Marine Conservation Area on the south coast of Newfoundland.
In a news release on Tuesday, Environment Minister Chris Tibbs said the province can’t support the move because of the possible impacts on aquaculture, fishing and mining in the area.
“Protecting the environment while fostering economic development requires careful balance. The provincial government is committed to safeguarding natural ecosystems while supporting sustainable industry, trade and community growth,” a statement from the provincial government read.
The proposed marine conservation area, which would cover nearly 6,500 kilometres along Newfoundland’s south coast fjords, was signed in June 2023 between Miawpukek First Nation, Qalipu First Nation, and the provincial and federal governments for a feasibility study.
The aim was to protect the “natural and cultural integrity of this globally significant ecosystem,” according to a news release from the former provincial Liberal government.
The area would have fallen under Parks Canada jurisdiction, and could have led to the re-designation of Sandbanks Provincial Park as a national park.
Speaking with CBC News after Tuesday’s announcement, Burgeo Mayor Trevor Green voiced his disappointment.
He said several inquiries about the status of the project weren’t responded to by the province, and he found out about the cancellation through a Tuesday morning phone call with Tibbs.
Burgeo Mayor Trevor Green said government didn’t communicate intentions to end the MOU before a phone call with him on Tuesday. (CBC)
“We asked for some facts to see, you know, where is your facts-based decisions on this? And he couldn’t provide it,” Green said.
“Our government says, ‘We’re here for all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians,’ and here’s a town that took initiative on their own to create some economic development, and put ourselves on the map, and revitalize our community, and the government’s pulled the rug out from under our feet,” he said.
Brad Benoit, chief of Miawpukek First Nation, said he had a feeling for some time that the project wouldn’t move forward.
He said he believes it’s dead in the water.
“I’m not sure how we’re going to reconvene, or how we’re going to come back on this,” Benoit said.
“I hope there’s a way that we can come to an agreement where industry and conservation can work together as one, instead of fighting against each other.”
Harvesters, industry praise move
The Fish, Food and Allied Workers union thanked Premier Tony Wakeham for the move, which it said clearly shows an intention to support the industry.
“We had significant concerns on what that closure was going to mean for the livelihoods of our membership,” FFAW president Dwan Street said. “We weren’t getting clear answers of what the impacts were going to be on our members.”
WATCH | Here’s the reaction to the PCs terminating MOU for marine conservation area:
PCs say no to National Marine Conservation Area for south coast of Newfoundland
Despite an MOU in place, Environment Minister Chris Tibbs says the conservation area poses risks to some industries and communities. But the mayor of Burgeo says the province’s move is premature. The CBC’s Peter Cowan reports.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Aquaculture Industry Association also voiced its support, writing in a statement that the marine area risked “crippling the local economy on the south coast.”
The association also commended Wakeham for “putting local people first.”
Meanwhile, Green said any development would have included industry and harvester voices as part of a management board, and that the town wouldn’t have moved forward if those voices weren’t included.
“I still feel there’s a lot of negotiations and conversations to be had before we kill the idea,” he said.
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