The federal government is one step closer to cleaning up the coast’s abandoned vessels.
South Shore – St. Margarets Bay MP Bernadette Jordan announced the government’s plan to cover 75 per cent of the cost of assessing the removal of abandoned vessels.
Jordan says the issue is important across the country and particularly her riding.
“This area is known for its coast line so it’s important to me, I’ve heard about how important it is to keep our coast lines clean and safe and our fishermen happy,” says Jordan.
And she says it’s a good move for the fishing industry.
“If you’ve got a big boat sitting on a boat, taking up two thirds of their prime real estate, it’s no good,” she says. “That’s one of the things we’re dealing with in some places where people tie up a boat and walk away and (fishermen) need that berthage.”
A third party, such as a government body, has to apply in order to receive the funding.
Nova Scotia Lands has taken on that role and put forward 31 vessels for assessment.
They’re among the first to be awarded funding through the new program – $105,285 in total.
NS Lands will cover the rest of the cost.
The assessment will help identify safety issues, environmental impacts, recycling value, and further costs associated with removing the boat.
Once its complete, applicants can apply for funding to remove and dispose of the vessel through the Abandoned Boats Program.
The program is meant to cover smaller boats versus a bill Jordan already worked on, which was to make it illegal to abandon vessels.
The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg will benefit from the new funding.
A private home owner in Feltzen South has been been dealing with a large abandoned boat on her property since 2015.
That vessel has been identified as one of those being assessed.
“It shouldn’t have been the land owners responsibility to clean this up, it should have been a responsible boat owner right from the start,” says MODL mayor Carolyn Bolivar Getson.
The vessel in Feltzen South is one of two on the South Shore that have been identified – the other being in Scotch Bay.
Story and photo by Brittany Wentzell
Twitter: @BrittWentzell
Email: wentzell.brittany@radioabl.ca
