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SYDNEY – Rodger Cuzner, Member of Parliament for Bras d’Or-Cape Breton, today announced on behalf of the Honourable Geoff Regan, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, that the Government of Canada will provide funding in the amount of $3.5 million for repairs and improvements at six fishing harbours in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
"The fishers who depend on these harbours will definitely benefit from such significant federal funding," said Mr. Cuzner. "Good harbour facilities are necessary to support our fishers and their success in the commercial fishery."
Over the last decade, fall and winter storms have caused sediment to infill the entrance channel at Cheticamp. The situation has progressed to the point that vessels entering or leaving the harbour are having difficulty safely navigating the entrance channel. Dredging is essential and is scheduled to start after completion of the necessary environmental assessments. Floating plant equipment will be used to remove 22,000 cubic metres of sediment from the channel, beginning in early September. The work is expected to take two months to complete and will ensure safe passage to fishers for years to come.
Mabou will be the site of a project to repair and improve harbour facilities. The marginal wharf, essential for berthage and unloading in this busy harbour, has deteriorated over time and is now in unsafe condition. As well, the harbour basin is too small to accommodate the vessels depending on the facility. Work will involve reconstructing approximately 60 metres of the marginal wharf and constructing a new 20 metre extension. Dredging to expand the harbour basin and the installation of floating docks will complete the project and do a lot to improve safety and capacity at Mabou. Work on this project is expected to be completed by the spring of 2005.
Also, work continues on a major, multi-year harbour development project at Petit-de-Grat. A new service area will be constructed this season. At Inverness (McIsaac Pond), a breakwater reconstruction and dredging project begun last year is in the final completion process. Advance work on a project to repair the wharf at Little Harbour (L’Ardoise) took place last year with actual construction scheduled for this year. Work will be coordinated with the fishing season and is expected to be completed by early fall. A dredging project at Grand Etang is currently finishing with land disposal of the dredged materials, according to environmental protection standards. This includes levelling and seeding the disposal site.
These projects will be implemented by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, as part of its Small Craft Harbours Program, in cooperation with the Harbour Authorities, which manage and operate the facilities for local users. Such close cooperation with clients allows the federal government to continue to provide an operable system of harbours and facilities throughout Canada in support of commercial fishers.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
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About Cheticamp, Mabou, Grand Etang and Inverness (McIsaac Pond):
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Frédéric Butruille
Communications Manager
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Moncton
(506) 851-7218
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About Little Harbour (L’Ardoise) and Petit-de-Grat :
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David R. Jennings
Manager, Communications
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Dartmouth
(902) 426-3555 |
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NR-HQ-04-53E |
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