Despite local press and media reports that that seismic testing is planned for the waters off Cape Breton and Sydney Bight in Nova Scotia, a company spokesman says there are no such plans.
Such testing would be carried out to explore the possibility of oil and gas reserves.
“We do not have any definite plans to do seismic work,” says James Oberwetter, spokesman for Hunt Oil in Dallas, Tex. He declined to elaborate further, however.
Jeff Brownstein, president of the Maritime Fishermen’s Union Local 6, which represents Cape Breton fishermen, says that he’s concerned about the possibility and adds that opposition to seismic testing not only involves fishermen, but tourism businesses, environmentalists and First Nations communities. “Every single group is vehemently opposed to this,” he adds.
Brownstein is also calling on Ottawa to institute a stringent review process, “before the possibility of testing is even thought of.”
Jeff MacDonald. legislative assistant to federal Fisheries and Oceans Minister Robert Thibault, noted that the review process and decision are in the hands of the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board, and that Thibault is “content with the CNSOPB process.” He declined to elaborate.
Brownstein adds that a great deal is at stake for area fishermen. “Sydney Bight and the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence make up a very rich and productive, sensitive and dynamic, ecosystem,” he says. “Most species actually migrate back and forth between the Bight and the Gulf. Throughout the year there is spawning activity and stock migrations. There is really no time of the year when species could not be severely impacted by exploration activities. We have some of the richest lobster and crab fisheries that can be found anywhere.”