Keep high capacity well moratorium, say fishermen

The P.E.I. Fishermen's Association is urging the provincial government to maintain its moratorium on high capacity irrigation wells.

The PEIFA made a presentation Tuesday to the standing committee on agriculture, environment, energy and forestry. Vice president Bobby Jenkins said there was reluctance on the part of the PEIFA executive to wade into the debate, but fishermen were calling with concerns.

"Our position, I guess right now, is we'd like to see a precautionary approach on this," said Jenkins.

"Whatever's going to be done we'd like to see the public involved and informed, and it to be transparent, so we all know what's going on."

Jenkins said his group's concerns are twofold.

• That fish habitat for eels and lobster larvae could be negatively affected if the water table is lowered.
• The supply of drinking water on P.E.I.

The PEIFA is calling on government to commission independent, peer-reviewed scientific research before making any decision.

Jenkins told the committee that climate change has made rainfall less predictable. If the water table is not replenished in any given year, he said it could take years to bring things back to normal. Lower water tables, he said, are already an issue for businesses and homeowners in areas with high levels of irrigation, and there is no system in place to offer protection or compensation to those affected.

He said members of the PEIFA are not speaking out against the agriculture industry, but still want government to maintain the moratorium on high-capacity irrigation wells.

Tuesday was the last day of hearings on the issue of high-capacity wells. The standing committee is preparing its recommendations, which will be presented during the fall sitting of the legislature.