The Rural Municipality of North Shore has released the Covehead Bay Review, complete with recommendations to create a collaborative approach to the shared multi-use and responsibility of the bay.
The review process included a public survey that had 171 respondents, more than 40 interviews with various stakeholders as well as a jurisdictional review.
The recommendations in the report focus on representing community interests, changes to existing municipal planning bylaws, creating new municipal bylaws, watershed health and recommending to provincial and federal governments and other stakeholders the development of multi-user marine use planning.
Robbie Moore, a local aquaculture farmer, said he was happy to be consulted on his views of the Covehead-Brackley bays and to have aquaculture recognized in the review.
“I look forward to seeing an environmental study done and hopefully a project or two to reduce the invasive species of sea lettuce and green crab in the bays,’’ Moore said.
Mayor Gordon Ellis said the review gives the rural municipality a clear view of the wide range of uses within the bay, the number of stakeholders involved in such a small area and the importance that the bay holds for residents and businesses.
“As we move forward, the focus will be on partnering with various stakeholders to ensure a healthy bay that is respectfully shared by all users,’’ Ellis said.
The full final report and the two-page review can be viewed on the municipality’s website at www.stanhopecovehead.pe.ca.
