The Opposition Greens are questioning the timeline of events leading up to a stoppage of the oyster fishery in the Charlottetown area this week.
During question period on Thursday, MLAs Lynne Lund and Trish Altass both asked Environment Minister Natalie Jameson about the decision by the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans that has delayed oyster fishing in the area.
Lund talked about the work underway to improve the Stratford Waste Water Treatment Plant and suggested that delays in sludge removal prompted a shut-down of fisheries.
"It was discovered that effluent that had previously been approved for release resulted in (a) shut-down of the oyster fishery in the Charlottetown area," Lund said. "When you realized that the effluent you had approved to be released would impact the spring wild oyster season, what did you do?"
In response, Jameson said her department had ordered the sludge removal work be stopped, as of May 27.
"From my understanding, when we realized this was posing a concern to fisheries last week, we had asked that this effluent be discontinued," Jameson said.
Jameson added that the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), which regulates the fisheries, made the decision to close down the oyster fishery in the area.
In an interview with The Guardian, Jameson said between 14 and 25 fishers were affected by the decision.
"This is certainly not a new situation for Stratford. Spring conditions have always impacted the system's performance, and if the additional sludge is not removed the impacts could be longer lasting and wider spread," Jameson said.
A representative from the Department of Environment, Water and Climate Change said the discharge of effluent from the wastewater treatment plan is continuous throughout the year. Sludge removal in lagoons in the spring often results in elevated bacteria levels from turnover caused by dredging.
However, this year, the work was delayed due to travel restrictions involving an off-Island dredging company that was contracted to do the work. As a result, the work and its impacts coincided with the oyster fishery – temporarily closing the fishery and suspending dredging.
The representative said the plant’s effect on the local fisheries has been an “ongoing issue”.
But Altass said several fishers were not aware of the impacts the work would have on their catch before DFO closed the fishery in the area. The fishing season had been scheduled to open on June 1 but has been closed due to the bacterial concerns.
"It wasn't until the evening of the second (of June) that they were informed that it was closed. They had to throw back their catch," Altass said.
Jameson said seven consecutive days of clean tests are required before her department will give a go-ahead for resuming the sludge removal process.
On its website, the Town of Stratford said the oyster fishery “might not open until June 8”.
