Bona fide farmers will be allowed to gather beach sand for use on their farming operations, Environment, Energy and Forestry Minister Richard Brown
says.
"Under the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act, the
minister may issue permits for the extraction of beach sand. Today I am
issuing a permit allowing all bona fide farmers in the province to
gather beach sand - using their own equipment - for use in providing
traction on their farms," said Brown.
"Earlier this year, government amended regulations in order to
stop commercial sand mining on our beaches, but the intent was never to
ban the small-scale use of beach sand by farmers. Island farmers have
historically had access to this resource and we will continue to allow
those with bona fide status to gather sand for use on their farms.
Government is confident that our farmers will continue to be good
stewards of our beaches."
Agriculture Minister George Webster welcomed the Minister's
decision to issue the permit.
"Regulatory changes banning commercial sand mining were never intended to restrict bona fide farmers from using
beach sand on their farming operations. This Ministerial permit will
allow farmers to operate as they always have until their access rights
are made formal when regulations are amended early in 2010," said
Webster.
