Harbour conditions in Naufrage getting dangerous, fishermen warn

Buildup at a sandbar in Naufrage in eastern P.E.I. is creating dangerous conditions, and fishermen who use the harbour want it fixed.

Sand regularly builds up on the north side of the harbour, they say.

There's 200 families making a living at this harbour.- Gerard Steele

Gerard Steele, chair of the harbour authority in Naufrage, said a fishing boat recently struck the sand bar, and needed to be pulled out. Steele wants the federal government to help pay for a permanent solution for the harbour.

"It's up to our MP to produce here. We can't do much at this level," he said.

"There's 200 families making a living at this harbour and we're going to be facing a tragedy ifthis continues."

In a statement to CBC News, a spokesperson for Fisheries and Oceans Canada said it's working on developing solutions to reduce sand build-up on the eastern side of the harbour.

The spokesperson said pIans are already underway to reconstruct the west side breakwater, which could help reduce infilling in the harbour.

There is no schedule for when this work might be done.