Prince Edward County’s local commercial fishery at Point Traverse, which has operated for generations, could soon be shut down but local residents aren’t letting their fishery go without a fight.
Prince Edward County residents made multiple deputations to council during Tuesday’s meeting, in an effort to save commercial fisheries at Point Traverse.
Fishing operations have been underway out of Long Point Harbour, with fishermen living in surrounding cottages and using nearby sheds for equipment storage, for over 200 years. The area came under control of Canada Wildlife Services in 1978 and has recently become the Prince Edward Point Wildlife Area.
While many cottage leases had been allowed to end by the tenants over the years, the remaining leases were terminated by Canada Wildlife Services last year in preparation to restore the area to natural habitat for wildlife, ensuring compliance with the Canada Wildlife Act which does not allow use of national wildlife area lands for commercial or private purposes. Local residents and fishers are concerned that this could lead to shutting down the harbour as well, putting an end to commercial fishing in the area.
Rosalyn Adams gave the first deputation, asking council to have commercial fishing added to the Prince Edward County official plan, alongside other industries like agriculture. Adams said that agriculture, tourism and other sectors enjoy representation and consideration in the official plan while commercial fishing does not.
“Unlike the local fishery, the global industrial food system is completely unsustainable, with fossil fuels used in transportation and production, energy intensive processing and refrigeration,” said Adams. “In contrast, our local fishery minimizes the use of all those things, and in a pinch can deliver food without them.”
Councillors were supportive of adding commercial fishing to the official plan and quickly passed a motion instructing municipal staff to prepare a report on where the official plan can be amended to include commercial fishing and determine how to add it into the plan. The report is due in early 2024.
Jordan McCormack, a local fisherman whose family had fished in the area for generations and recently had the lease on their Point Traverse cottage terminated also spoke to council. During his deputation he made a statement directed at Canada Wildlife Services, taking aim at their plans for the new conservation area.
“The vast majority of county residents do not support your South Shore Joint Initiative. They do not want their beaches and favourite trails destroyed. They don’t want their favourite harbour destroyed and become unavailable for local use,” said McCormack. “They do not want your imposition of what normal should be as the driving factor that controls this county and directs their lives and livelihood.”
Lastly, Amy Bodman gave a third deputation in support of the local fisheries. In her time before council she relayed the rich history and cultural significance the fishing industry has had in the area, and requested that council support the fishery to protect that historic and cultural significance.
After Bodman’s deputation, Councillor David Harrison proposed sending a letter of support for the fishery to Diane Lebouthillier, the Federal Minister of Fisheries Oceans and Canadian Coast Guard.
“The last few years, the fishermen have had to keep that harbour open, dredge it at their own expense,” said Councillor Harrison. “Where formerly Fisheries and Oceans, it was a harbour of refuge until they downloaded it. We’d like to see that changed or go back to them maintaining the harbour.”
Councillor Harrison also noted that when fishermen have had to operate out of other harbours, it added hours of travel time to reach the same fishing spots that are easily accessible from Long Point Harbour.
The motion was passed without debate.
