Fishermen in Digby Neck want the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to act on wharf repairs.
A steering committee has been formed to advocate for repairs at Little River Harbour, Centreville and Sandy Cove.
Fisherman Noel Facey says decades have gone by without major repairs.
He says fishing vessels nowadays are much larger.
“The wharves are starting to lose their value as a place for berthage. Centreville and Little River, when they get storms with a prevailing wind, the boats just can’t stay there. They have to take them out of there.”
Facey says when storms hit, there are major safety concerns.
“The boats can’t stay in Little River, they have to move to Sandy Cove. When you get up there, the boats are tied up at five and six abreast, and at low tide you can’t get them out.”
Facey says this is a safety issue, as between 50 and 60 boats dock there.
He says it’s frustrating to see repairs done at other wharves in the area.
Meanwhile, Jake MacLeay, DFO’s area manager for small craft harbours says they do their best to keep on top of repairs.
“Within the area of Southwestern Nova Scotia, there are 87 different harbours under my responsibility. We try and keep on top of all of them and make sure they are safe for fishermen to use.”
MacLeay says DFO will conduct structural investigations of the wharves in the next month or two.
