As you may know, Blue Lantern Shellfish (bluelantern.ca) is preparing a proposal to put a large scallop farm in the Indian Point and Surrounding Islands which include 4 islands under the stewardship of the Mahone Island Conservation Association; Andrews Island, Birch Island, Sheep Island and Goat Island. The other islands, Young, Kaulback, Klungemache, Zwicker, Ernst, Gifford and Rous have homes (year round and seasonal) and wharves and docks where Island residents can access their homes. The proposal places 7 areas with a total of 50 HA(Hectares) in the waters surrounding these slands.
Indian Point Yacht Club has written to Blue Lantern Shellfish on April 6 as follows;
Dear Mr MacInnis,
Thank you for the opportunity to share with you our courses. Our Indian Point Yacht Club was created by residents of Indian Point, Mahone Bay Harbour, Martins River.and surrounding islands. Our board members work in the marine commercial, recreational and construction industries, and our membership includes members of the Board of the Mahone Island Conservation Association. Our Yacht Club works with Chester Yacht Club and Lunenburg Yacht Club for joint events, and several of our members work with Chester Yacht Club on the production of the annual event, Chester Race Week.
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We were understandably shocked when you said that you had used the Cruising Club of America (CCA) as a reference as to where it was suitable for your shellfish leases. Having worked in our Atlantic Provinces in the marine industry since 1999, I know that the interests of the CCA are purely for the gratification of their membership which is USA based.
Several of your proposed lease sites are in Navigable Channels. If you look at the Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) Chart of Mahone Bay, you will see that Kaulback Island supports a range of leading day markers and leading lights that bring marine vessels(commercial, recreational and fishing) safely through the reefs of Young Ledge and Bella Shoal of Mahone Bay into the deep water channels (where you have proposed lease sites) between Kaulback and Klungemache, Klungemache and Birch Island, Klungemache and Zwicker Island and then into the Martins River, Martins Point, Narrows Basin, Indian Point etc., sheltered waters. You also propose to place a site at the entrance of the passage between Rous Island and Ernst Island which leads into the anchorage off Gifford Island, the commercial enterprise there and the entrance to residents of Rous, Ernst and Gifford Islands. The preference of small boats is to stay inside of Spectacle Island and once again that passage is impeded by your proposed leases.
Twice a year, the Canadian Coast Guard anchors their buoy tending ship on the west side of Klungemache Island and that is the chosen anchorage of larger vessels and superyachts when they visit the area.
Our Yacht Club hosts evening yacht races throughout the summer and several weekend events for power and sail. I have attached the courses of the Martins River Regatta held annually for three classes of vessel in subsequent emails. As you can see, the smaller Class C stays inside Spectacle Island and goes between Rous and Ernst Islands. We have many other race courses depending on the time of year and wind direction and many pass through all of your proposed lease areas. If you have ever spent any time in our area you would know that the passage of boats in all areas is constant during the summer months from May 1 until Thanksgiving weekend and beyond. Island residents run boats through many of your proposed areas day and night, often year round, and those residential islands have serviced wharves and docks.
We do not believe you could have chosen a busier area for your proposed leases and hope that you will consider areas where major residential interests, community organizations and marine businesses are not. already involved.
Sincerely
Patricia Nelder
INDIAN POINT YACHT CLUB