Matthew Atlantic
Blood sea star near Matthew Atlantic dive site (Photo: Kim Langille)
Tourism
Moratorium on Finfish Aquaculture Announced!
On March 12, 2009 the Premier of Nova Scotia, Rodney MacDonald, announced an “indefinite” moratorium on more finfish aquaculture operations in Port Mouton Bay. Read more >
One of the primary benefits cited by federal and provincial governments for encouraging aquaculture projects is the economic benefits. Communities around Port Mouton Bay also recognize the need to foster economic development, potentially including aquaculture projects. However, we believe economic gain from this specific project is short term at best. And that those gains would be at the cost of future tourism growth and opportunities.
Tourism is vital to Queens County. It is the second largest industry in terms of employment. Manufacturing employs 1,160, followed by tourism at 600, and then forestry, fishing, agriculture and hunting industries at 395 1. In fact the Region of the Municipality of Queens Tourism has identified tourism as a "key industry for Queens County".2
With a sparse population and fewer man-made amenities, the region's unspoiled lake and river systems, and pristine coastline are cornerstones of the tourism strategy. See Region of Queens Tourism Web Site.
The addition of a large salmon farm to the Bay is not consistent with the vision of tourism for Queens. The Council of the Region of Queens Municipality voted unanimously to oppose this project. Reasons given include the negative impact to tourism, and risk to Port Mouton Bay's many beaches.
Tourism and Recreation in Port Mouton Bay
Within close proximity of the proposed site are prime tourist facilities and attractions including:
- Summerville Beach Retreat Chalets
- Summerville Beach Provincial Park
- Quarterdeck Beachside Villas and Grill
- Hunts Point Beach Cottages
- Kejimkujik Seaside Adjunct
- White Point Beach Resort
The Bay is renowned for its many white sand beaches:
- Carter's Beach
- Back Beach (on Port Mouton Island)
- Hunts Point Beach
- Summerville Beach
- South West Port Mouton Beach
- Kejimkujik Seaside Adjunct beaches (just outside the Bay)
- White Point Beach
- Wobemkak Beach
In Port Mouton Bay tourists and locales enjoy a wide range of outdoor recreational activities such as: site-seeing tours, whale watching, kayaking, swimming, and saltwater recreational fishing. Sail boats, from around the world, frequently drop anchor in the Bay. See photo gallery of boats in the bay.
Recreational divers travel to the Bay to experience the Matthew Atlantic dive site. This fishing boat was scuttled in 1998 in order to create an artificial reef suitable for diving expeditions. See photos of the Matthew Atlantic by Kim Langille.
The presence of a second, much larger salmon farm raises concerns for:
- potential environmental damage to the nearby beaches from fish farm waste
- loss of natural seascape and coastline
- negative impact to the Matthew Atlantic dive site. The location of the proposed fish farm is immediately next to the Matthew Atlantic site. Fish waste and other debris from the sea cages will discourage the marine life growth on the wreck. And fish waste will undoubtedly reduce water clarity. Murky waters are not what recreational divers are looking for.
Conclusion
We believe that preserving the natural state of our shoreline, especially the unique coastline of Port Mouton Bay, is where our tourism future lies. The value of a clean, unspoiled ocean coastline will only increase in the future.
