I’m very worried about the proposed South Coast National Marine Conservation Area (NMCA), and I want to ask you to help stop it from going ahead.
The way things are going right now, this NMCA could really hurt the fisheries and aquaculture work that keeps families in the region afloat. The proposed boundary Parks Canada is looking at still cuts right across where boats run every day. They say they’ll change the rules down the road so vessels can pass through, but we’ve been told that before — and changes like that take years, if they happen at all. That kind of uncertainty makes it harder for anyone to invest or plan for the future.
What’s worse, Parks Canada’s own policy says each NMCA has to include at least one “fully protected zone.” Their goal is to eventually make most of the NMCA fully protected. According to their official directive, only traditional Indigenous use and tourism are allowed in those zones. That means fisheries and fish farming would be completely banned.
This is already having a real impact. Companies aren’t investing in new aquaculture projects, and long-standing fishing businesses are now unsure about whether they’ll be able to keep operating in a few years. Parks Canada is not considering the hit this will cause to livelihoods — not just in aquaculture and fishing, but in other coastal industries too. The jobs and income from this work are worth a lot more than what we’d get from seasonal tourism.
Aquaculture in the region provides over 2,000 jobs, and it puts more than $280 million into the provincial economy. Farmed salmon is tracked from egg to grocery shelf, with strict oversight from provincial and federal regulators. The fish are cared for by trained vets and techs, and the industry is watched closely to make sure the ocean stays healthy. That’s something to be proud of.
American-funded activist groups like the Atlantic Salmon Federation are running slick campaigns that spread false claims — like saying eating farmed salmon could cause cancer or autism. That’s just not true. They’re trying to scare people and tear down confidence in our food and safety systems.
Please, don’t let this NMCA get past the feasibility assessment stage. If it does and is deemed feasible, it’ll lock us into years of uncertainty and red tape. We need you to stand up for the jobs and the critical sectors we represent — the ones that feed families, support food security, and keep our communities going.
Thanks for taking the time to read this.
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