Revisiting Georges Bank moratorium goes against 'good political management,' says fishery rep

Premier Tim Houston's musings about revisiting the petroleum development moratorium for Georges Bank was met with forceful opposition from an industry that's fought for four decades to protect the lucrative fishing grounds from oil rigs.

During a news conference Wednesday where he discussed the need to pursue more natural resource development in Nova Scotia, Houston did not dismiss the idea of reconsidering the Georges Bank moratorium his own government recently helped extend to 2032.

Kris Vascotto, executive director of the Nova Scotia Seafood Alliance, said in an interview Thursday that this type of reflection from Houston "and to have this walk-back with very little guidance as to what this actually means is really flying in the face of good political management."

Vascotto referred to Georges Bank as "one of the most productive geographical areas" off the Nova Scotia coast. The area that straddles the Canada-U.S. maritime border includes extensive halibut, haddock and scallop fisheries, he said.

A recent study found that $145 million worth of fish was caught off Georges Bank in 2020, and crews from southwest Nova Scotia benefited the most.

Vascotto said the "most offensive part" about possibly revisiting the idea is that a 2021 review considering the socioeconomic importance of Georges Bank, resource potential and environmental sensitivity of the area concluded that the moratorium should be extended.

"It is essentially a violation of a commitment that was made to the industry by the government and more broadly to Nova Scotians," Vascotto said.

The president of Acadian Fish Processors told The Canadian Press that a reversal of the oil and gas ban is the last thing he'd want to see.

"We fish there year-round and I'm afraid if they put an exclusive zone around these oil rigs we'll lose a lot of territory where we'll no longer be able to fish," said Richard d'Entremont.

"Georges Bank has been a saviour for our fishing area for years here."

Energy Minister Trevor Boudreau issued a statement calling on people not to believe "fear mongering about the unknown." (Pat Callaghan/CBC)

Vascotto said he'd been told by a contact at the Energy Department that the Georges Bank moratorium would not be one of the development bans the Progressive Conservative government plans to revisit, but the department had a different message for CBC News on Thursday.

Energy Minister Trevor Boudreau was not made available for an interview. But in a statement a department spokesperson attributed to him, Boudreau said he knows that "traditional sectors can flourish while we also look at new sectors."

"Georges Bank is a great example of a region that provides a great economic contribution and supports employment and our exports," the statement says. "We trust Nova Scotians understand what we are advancing and that they don't believe fear-mongering about the unknown. We look forward to hearing from Nova Scotians directly."

It's unclear who Boudreau is referring to when he mentions fear-mongering, but questions from fishing industry representatives are tied directly to the premier's own words.

On Wednesday, as Houston discussed "a number of bans" and "mounds of red tape" that could limit the province's ability to increase its economic prosperity, he was asked about what bans he would be prepared to look at again.

In response to a specific question about Georges Bank, Houston said: "I will look at everything. What can be done safely — that's the lens."

'We have to have a discussion'

The premier said people have a right to be concerned that things could be done safely, but "they're discussions to have."

"Just think about this: right now, if somebody mentions Georges Bank and we're nervous to have a discussion — we have to have a discussion."

Houston said there would be "lots of discussions with communities" before there are changes, although he also suggested there could be legislation ready to go when MLAs return to Province House next month for the spring session of the legislature.

Even if Houston did decide he wanted to lift the moratorium, he cannot do it alone. That's because the federal government shares jurisdiction for the area with the province and would have to pass legislation of its own.

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