A Queens County community that calls itself a “quaint fishing village” may not be a fishing village much longer, as the federal government is set to barricade sections of two wharfs used by commercial fishers for decades.
The wharfs in Hunts Point were originally built more than 60 years ago.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) said both structures have deteriorated and will be partially blocked off in the coming days because of safety concerns. Only pedestrian traffic will be allowed.
Fishers were only told about the closures in early September. Once barricades are in place, gear storage and vehicle traffic, including loading and offloading fishing equipment and catches, will be impacted.
“It’s kind of a slap in the face really,” said fisher Adam Roach. “It’s going to be a big loss for the community because you know, the fishermen are working here most times, but a lot of people come here just to talk and learn.”
Roach said he and the 20 other people who work out of these wharfs will be in a tough spot because of the closures.
The biggest question for the fishers working from these wharfs is where they will depart for Dumping Day at the start of the lobster season for their area on Nov. 30.
DFO said in a statement to CBC News that the wharfs will be accessible to homeport users on Dumping Day and that “operational adjustments” to help “accommodate barriers” will be used when fishers are loading and offloading equipment.
But there are questions about how that will work and what other wharfs Hunts Point fishing boats can use going forward.
Both wharfs were constructed decades ago and have structures built alongside them to store gear and equipment inside. (Jeorge Sadi/CBC)
The director of the Harbour Authority of Hunts Point says there is nowhere close that has space for seven fishing vessels and still gives them easy access to their fishing grounds in Lobster Fishing Area 33 on Nova Scotia’s South Shore.
“Every wharf is full,” said Michael Lunn.
Lunn has appealed to all levels of government to stop the closures and to lobby for a new wharf or repairs to the existing wharfs. But so far, nothing has changed.
Scott Christian, mayor of the Region of Queens Municipality, said it seems like the federal government’s approach is to move fisheries away from smaller communities like Hunts Point.
“There has been a lack of investment in a lot of these government wharfs and even dredging of silt for quite a while, so these assets have been sort of dying on the vine and left to rot for quite some time,” said Christian.
Hunts Point’s moniker is ‘Quaint Fishing Village 1788,’ something that might be at risk if fishing can no longer take place due to the wharf closures. (Jeorge Sadi/CBC)
Lunn has worked off these wharfs for 41 years and has been with the Harbour Authority since it was first created in 1991.
He said an initial survey of the wharfs was completed in 2017 after talks took place about reconstructing one wharf and dredging around the other to bring them both up to code.
That survey said the two wharfs might last about a decade, but major repair work was needed. Lunn said patchwork repairs have taken place since then to extend their lives.
One of the structures created to house the fishers’ gear and equipment. The fishers own these and pay taxes on them. (Jeorge Sadi/CBC)
Lunn said local fishers asked for a new survey, hoping to acquire funding to fix or rebuild the wharfs.
“But when the new survey was done, we were all but told, do not walk on the wharfs,” Lunn said.
In a statement to CBC News, a DFO spokesperson said they are assessing long-term options for Hunts Point which will include “eventual divestiture.”
The statement also noted the Central Port Mouton project will increase harbour capacity in the area.
Impacts to tourism, community
Several members of the Hunts Point community came out to show their support for access to the wharfs earlier this week.
Sebastian and Sydney Ivany own the Hunts Point Harbour Cottages, just across the water from the wharfs and are raising two young boys in the community.
Both say the wharfs are central to their community and a draw for the guests who visit their cottages.
Paul Newman, who moved to Hunts Point with his husband four years ago to retire, says the wharfs are a “living heritage” no one wants to lose.
“It’s more than just about fishing, it is one of the most quintessential-looking fishing villages in Nova Scotia.”
Fishers not ‘apprised enough’
CBC News reached out to MP Jessica Fancy’s office for comment, but did not hear back before deadline.
However, Mayor Christian said he has spoken with Fancy’s office and believes there is recognition that the impacted fishers were not being “apprised enough” of the closures.
He also said he has been working to make sure the federal government understands that sending the boats from Hunts Point to other ports, like nearby Port Mouton, is not that easy.
“It seems like Hunts Point and Port Mouton are right beside each other when you’re looking from Ottawa, but on the ground in Queens County, we realize that these are distinct communities with heritage and connections to one another,” Christian said.
He hopes a solution will be found that will allow the fishers to start their lobster season as planned.
Roberta Roy, the councillor for this area, said she would like to see the wharfs upgraded because to do otherwise would harm the community.
“It’s Hunts Point. It’s the fishing village since 1788,” said Roy. “So you’re taking the heart of this village and just moving it somewhere else.”
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