Dear editor,
The Union Bay development might just be the final nail in the coffin of the Baynes Sound shellfish industry.
Dredging for the marina could potentially cause the release of dormant toxic heavy metals (left over from the coal days) such as arsenic, cadmium and lead.
Arsenic, lead and especially cadmium levels would increase in filter feeders like oysters and with cadmium levels in Baynes Sound shellfish already being at unacceptable levels for some countries, any increase could be disastrous.
There are already health restrictions on how many oysters are safe to consume due to cadmium, lead, arsenic and now probably micro-plastics too.
As DFO (Fisheries and Oceans Canada) will tell you, closures are becoming more frequent and with Cumberland’s overflow sewage trickling into the Trent River (which empties into Baynes Sound), it’s no wonder there was a closure for noro-virus at Henry Bay. Baynes Sound is already at the tipping point, which is why DFO refuses to release their latest Carrying Capacity Study.
How much is too much and will the new Union Bay marina be the last nail?
Edi Johnston
Denman Island