Atlantic Policy Congress and Maritime Fishermen's Union press release

From: "Roger Davies" <daisies@chebucto.ns.ca>
To: "Sustainable Maritimes" <sust-mar@chebucto.ns.ca>
Date: Tue, 1 Aug 2000 12:15:41 -0300
Precedence: bulk
Return-Path: <sust-mar-mml-owner@chebucto.ns.ca>

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MEDIA RELEASE

Contact: JJ Bear - Communications, APC - 902-667-4007
  John G. Paul - Executive Director, APC - 902-667-4007
  Jeff Brownstein - President, Local 6 MFU - 902-929-2757
  Mike Belliveau - Executive Secretary, MFU - 506-532-2485

Amherst, NS - July 25, 2000

The Atlantic Policy Congress (APC) of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat
Inc. and the Maritime Fishermenís Union (MFU) wish to make a joint
statement regarding the desire of Hunt Oil, of Texas, to perform seismic
testing this fall in the waters of Sydney Bight, specifically in the
waters off Port Morien to Cape Smokey, without completing an extensive
environmental assessment prior to exploring.

The APC Chiefs, in Resolution #47/99, demanded that two similar
exploration surveys be stopped in the Port Hood to Cheticamp area last
December, where a lease is held by Corridor Resources.

Now, the Canada/Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum board has chosen to
by-pass the environmental assessment process regarding oil and gas
exploration off its shores, and plan to issue these permits.

ìThese exploration permits will have major impacts on the eco-systems in
those areas,î said Chief Lawrence Paul, Co-chair of APC, ìand may damage
or destroy many of the fish stocks that are there.î

ìWe are concerned about the lack of both the Federal and Provincial
governments regulations to protect these inshore areas,î said Chief
Second Peter Barlow, Co-chair of APC. ìThe precedent they are setting by
issuing these permits without conducting environmental assessments are
endangering the marine life and the communities reliant on those
resources.î

ìThe commercial fishery in Sydney Bight is worth more now than it ever
was and remains the backbone of the economy of coastal Cape Breton,î
said Jeff Brownstein, President of Local 6, Maritime Fishermenís Union.
ìOur groundfish stocks show signs of rebuilding, our crab stocks are
booming and we have put into place conservation measures to improve our
lobster fishery by doubling egg production. It is absolutely criminal to
consider seismic exploration which could kill shellfish and fish eggs
and larvae as well as disrupt their migration patterns.î

The Atlantic Chiefs and the Maritime Fishermenís Union are demanding
that Minister Dahliwal put a halt to the issuance of these permits and
live up to his responsibilities laid out in the legislation regarding
protecting the habitat.


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