Harbour Authorities april 2003 — Volume 9, no. 1

Sointula Harbour Local Control Suits Independent Community

When the crew of the trawler Northisle brought up an old anchor while fishing off Estevan Point on the west coast of in 1989, skipper Jimmy Erickson wanted to dump it back over- board. Crew member Calvin Siider insisted that the huge rusted piece of iron had historical value and took it back to his home harbour of Sointula. There, a marine artifact expert exam- ined the anchor and declared that it was made in England sometime between 1750 and 1800. Records of Captain Cook’s exploratory voyage of the west coast of North America in 1776 state that while the ship Resolution was anchored in the region of Estevan Point, three anchor Sointula Harbour. An anchor (inset) thought to be from one of Captain Cook’s ships graces the harbour’s Fishermen’s Memorial. Photos by Kelly Edwards. lines broke during a storm. Calvin Siider’s find, Sointula residents concluded, was Company Limited received a Crown grant harbour berths 124 boats, the majority of one of Captain Cook’s three lost anchors! of land on Malcolm Island in 1901. which are licensed commercial fishing That anchor is now the centrepiece of As with many Utopian communities, boats. The remaining vessels include the Sointula Fishermen’s Memorial, things did not go well. The land proved tugboats, pleasure craft and a ferry that installed and dedicated in the summer of unsuitable for farming, a disastrous fire runs between Malcolm Island and 2002. “Most seaports have some sort of killed 11 people and destroyed the com- Vancouver Island. memorial honouring fishers lost at sea munity centre, a bridge-building contract The construction of a rock breakwater, and we thought it was appropriate to use bankrupted the community, and a logging wharf heads and floating docks to expand the anchor in ours,” says Dick Michelson, business failed. Many of the settlers left and improve the harbour was well under- President of the Malcolm Island Lions when Kurikka resigned as leader. The way when the federal government Harbour Authority. remaining Finns took up fishing. Over approached the community about forming Sointula is located on Malcolm Island, time, they built a strong economy around a harbour authority in 1993. The Malcolm a small island off the northeastern tip of commercial fishing, fish processing, Island Lions Club was the only group in Vancouver Island. The name (which logging and lumber production. the small, independent-minded community means “harmony” in Finnish) reveals the Fishing for salmon, halibut, shrimp and willing to take over managing what every- community’s origins as a Utopian commu- rockfish is the mainstay of the economy of one thought was doing fine on its own, nity founded by Finnish coal miners. Their Sointula, home to approximately 1,000 explains Mr. Michelson. leader was a charismatic playwright with people. “We have the largest per capita But the harbour has benefited from the strong socialist leanings named Matti fishing fleet in ,” says formation of the harbour authority, he Kurikka. His Kalevan Kansa Colonisation Harbour Manager Lorraine Williams. The Continues on page 2

Fisheries and Oceans Pêches et Océans Canada NHAAC Completes Annual Mandate Review

On November 14 and 15, 2002, the ideas and promote better work practices discussion was a key part of the meeting, National Harbour Authority Advisory among harbour authorities. since it demonstrated members’ continu- Committee (NHAAC) held its fourth meet- At the top of the agenda were the ing desire to see the NHAAC grow and ing in St. John’s, Newfoundland and annual review of the NHAAC mandate and develop and to be as effective as possible. Labrador. After being warmly welcomed a discussion of how the NHAAC functions. The committee spent the rest of the by their hosts, NHAAC members and The group reiterated that the committee meeting discussing ongoing issues, such Small Craft Harbours (SCH) representa- functions most effectively as an advisory as fatigue among harbour authorities, the tives entered into the two-day meeting body — providing information and advice Alternate Service Delivery pilot project with a positive attitude, eager to share to SCH staff. In light of this, members and insurance. The night before the meet- questioned the format of the semi-annual ing, members elected the executive, with NHAAC meetings: up to now, members all three sitting members being re-elected: have used the meetings primarily to Osborne Burke as Chairperson, Rick Hill Sointula Harbour, update each other on recurring issues. as Vice-chairperson and Melanie continued from page 1 Members identified other issues they Sonnenberg as Secretary. would like to discuss as agenda items for The committee’s time was not com- admits. “We’re pretty busy in the upcoming meetings. pletely filled with business discussions. spring, summer and fall with commer- However, to make the most of these The conference hosts demonstrated the cial fishing and pleasure craft. On-site discussions, members said they would famous Newfoundland hospitality by hold- harbour management is necessary to need to know about these issues in ing a reception at the end of the first day’s keep track of all the activity all year advance, so they could discuss them with proceedings, and the group spent the day round.” And local control of the their respective regional advisory council following the meeting visiting Petty management of the harbour — an or association. In this way, NHAAC Harbour, Port de Grave, Harbour Grace, important element of the Small Craft members would be able to give feedback Bay Bulls and Tors Cove. Harbours program — suits the inde- that truly represented the views of all The next NHAAC meeting will be held in pendent character of Sointula and harbour authorities, rather than just their ’s Îles-de-la-Madeleine in early May. its fishers. own opinions and experiences. This

Harbour Authorities Forum, Vol. 9, No. 1 New Look

Editor: Tara Hartley Associate Editor: Linda Brisebois for Web Site Assistant Editor: Monia Charlebois Staff Writers: Lisa Dyche and Erin Sloan From Internet Coordinator: April Rose The Small Craft Harbours Web site Fax: (613) 952-6788 was recently redesigned in response to the Editor E-mail: [email protected] the Government On-Line Common Web site: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/sch I am very excited to see such wonder- Look and Feel initiative. The site was Editorial and Production Services ful material in this issue of Harbour redesigned keeping harbour authorities Whitehall Associates Authorities Forum. It gives me great in mind. While most of the information Publisher pleasure to be able to help you share you are used to seeing on the site is Small Craft Harbours, 14N178 these stories with your colleagues. Fisheries and Oceans Canada still there, many of the page names Ottawa, K1A 0E6 I am also very grateful to all of the have changed, so you should update people in the Pacific Region office for © Minister of Public Works and Government your bookmarks accordingly. At your Services Canada 2003 their hospitality, especially to Stacee convenience, please type the following Martin and Levi Timmermans who ISSN 1203-5564 link into your browser to view the site: so capably arranged the details of Printed on recycled paper http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/sch. Your my visit. comments and suggestions for improv- ing the site are always welcome. Tara Hartley

2 Harbour Authorities Forum Goodwill Brings Fishers Together

Thanks to goodwill and extensive consul- the Port Authority. A restruc- Native and non-Native fishing activity tation, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal tured harbour authority board reflects the were subject to regulations and would be fishers who work out of the harbour in interests and concerns of all the harbour closely monitored went a long way Richibucto, , are working stakeholders. Much needed construction towards calming the situation.” together to keep their communities thriving. to expand and improve the harbour is Restructuring the harbour authority “What was done there could be seen as a under way. board was key to achieving a solution. role model for the rest of Canada,” says What turned the situation around? The board now comprises three Abori- Maurice Girouard, Director of Aboriginal “Cooperation and good will from every- ginal and three non-Aboriginal members Harbour Development in Maritimes Region. one,” says Mr. Girouard. “Everyone from the fisher group, two members repre- He led a team of representatives from Small wanted to avoid confrontation, but not at senting pleasure boat users, one member Craft Harbours, other parts of the Depart- any cost.” There was a clear understand- each from the chamber of commerce, the ment of Fisheries and Oceans, the local ing that any solution to the community’s business development association, the Member of Parliament’s office and the problems had to be a balanced one, one harbour-based business operators, the fishers’ union that worked with community that wasn’t seen as favouring one group Town of Richibucto and the Aboriginal members to restructure the harbour author- over another, he says. communities of Big Cove and Indian Island. ity and develop lines of communication As an example, Mr. Polchies explains The new by-laws require the board’s execu- between the various stakeholders. that “provincial ministry and federal tive to have a 50-50 split between Aborigi- Difficulties began for the community department assurances that both the nal and non-Aboriginal members. after the Marshall decision of September 1999, which granted Aboriginal fishers the right to fish for food and to generate a moderate income. The food fishery starts several weeks before the commercial fishery opens, which raised concerns among non-Aboriginal fishers about competition for limited fish stocks. After the Marshall decision, the size and composition of the Richibucto fishing fleet changed dramatically. By December 2001, the original fleet of 47 fishing vessels (42 skippered by non-Aboriginal fishers and 5 skippered by Aboriginal fishers) had grown to 63 boats, 22 of which were skippered by non-Aboriginals. These changes in the fleet and growing tensions in the community made it appar- ent that equal representation on the harbour authority board was necessary to better reflect the identities of harbour users, says Mr. Girouard. In addition, the board saw a growing need and require- ment for services in three languages: New Homes for Old Bells English, French and Mi’kmaq. Historic St. Nicholas Anglican Church in Torbay, Newfoundland and Labrador, will soon be Today, the Richibucto harbour is func- graced with a new 2.5 m steel tower frame housing the Lord’s Cove buoy bell, which was donated by the in 2000 after it was damaged during Hurricane Michael tioning smoothly, even as the fishing fleet that same year. “Traditional buoy bells are being replaced with electronic chimes,” explains has grown still further to 86 commercial Gerry Hayes, Director of Operations and Development for the Town of Torbay, who arranged fishing boats and approximately 50 plea- the donation of the bell. “It seemed a shame to just send these historical bells to the scrap sure craft, says Big Cove resident Cyril yard.” A similar project is under way in Fogo Island. Photo by Ben Hansen. Polchies, a fisher and the new president of

Harbour Authorities Forum 3 l Outlook na o i

Reg Welcome to the Lower North Shore and Labrador!

The skies were bright and sunny for the tour of the Lower North Shore of the St. Lawrence River and Labrador harbours that took place from September 16 to 20, 2002. Robert Bergeron, Director General, Small Craft Harbours, Gervais Bouchard, Regional Director, Quebec Region, and Bill Goulding, Regional Director, Newfoundland and Labrador Region, had an opportunity to visit facilities in these harbours and meet the members of their harbour authorities. “Most of the harbour authorities in From left to right, Wayne Bungay, Robert Bergeron, Bill Goulding and Gervais Bouchard stop to take these areas function in isolation created in the scenery on their tour of Quebec’s Lower North Shore and Labrador. They are pictured on a by geography and the absence of highway bridge over the Pinware River in Labrador. infrastructure,” Mr. Bergeron explains. “We wanted to go there to meet the people Paintings of the Past and discuss their concerns with them.” Messrs. Bergeron, Bouchard and The community fish- Goulding traveled mainly by helicopter. ing stage building in During the first two days, they toured the Portugal Cove South Lower North Shore harbours, including stands out from its Rivière-au-Tonnerre, Mingan, Havre neighbours along Saint-Pierre and the four harbours that the eastern make up the new global harbour authority Newfoundland coast. in the eastern sector of the Lower North Five 1.25 m by 2.5 m Shore (Old Fort Bay, Middle Bay, Baie de paintings depicting Brador and Blanc-Sablon). Richard typical scenes of the Chénier, Program Officer for the North early 20th century Shore, accompanied them on the tour. grace its walls. “They look like windows to the past,” explains Charlene Power, During the last three days, area chiefs Secretary of the Harbour Authority of Portugal Cove South. Created by Nora Coombs Jim Cheeseman and Wayne Bungay, who in 2000 as a job creation project, the paintings bring a sense of pride to the small are responsible for southern and northern community. They also attract tourists, up to a 100 a day, curious to learn more about Labrador respectively, joined the group for the life of Newfoundland fishers and their families. “I’ve even had people come to my the tour of the harbours in their areas, house looking for prints,” says Mrs. Coombs. including L’Anse-au-Clair, Forteau, L’Anse- au-Loup, St. Lewis, Makkovik and Nain. During their stay in Blanc-Sablon, the visitors were invited to attend a dinner with members of the global harbour authority for the eastern area of the Lower North Shore and the L’Anse-au-Clair, L’Anse-au-Loup and Forteau harbour authorities. It was an evening marked by conviviality, relaxation and interregional exchange. Five paintings depicting typical scenes of the early 20th century grace the walls of the fishing stage building in Portugal Cove South, Newfoundland and Labrador.

4 Harbour Authorities Forum Region al O

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o FHAAC Aims for Closer Ties with CCG k

The Freshwater Harbour Authority “Our region is vast,” explains Bruce navgational aids and replacement parts,” Advisory Council’s (FHAAC) five-point Benson, President of FHAAC. “Cutbacks says Bob Jackson, CCG’s Superintendent mandate (described in the October 2002 and the growing practice of tendering out of Marine Aids to Navigation in Central issue of Harbour Authorities Forum) maintenance work to independent con- and Arctic Region. Navigational aids includes the intent to develop closer ties tractors mean that many harbours in inside harbour limits (as defined by the between harbour authorities and the Central and Arctic Region never see a harbour authority lease) are the responsi- Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) to improve Coast Guard representative.” Many may bility of the harbour authority, explains boating safety and ensure each harbour in not be aware that the services and assis- Mr. Jackson, while those outside the Central and Arctic Region has adequate tance of CCG are available to them, he adds. harbour limits are CCG’s responsibility. navigational aids. What kind of services and assistance (For information on how this works in can CCG provide? “The Coast Guard is practice in Newfoundland and Labrador always available to respond to harbour Region, see page 3 of the July 2002 issue authority questions and concerns, provide of Harbour Authorities Forum). advice and recommend suppliers for HA Member Recognized Maritime as Community Hero Harbour Steward May, Secretary of the Harbour Mr. May’s history of service to his com- Authority Authority of Belleoram, was honoured for munity spans more than 20 years. One of his many years of volunteer service at the his greatest accomplishments, while mayor Conference annual Newfoundland and Labrador of Belleoram, was to set up a library for Federation of Municipalities convention the town and acquire books for libraries in November 2002. Mr. May received and schools along the south coast of The fourth Maritime Provinces Har- a Municipal Service Award from the Newfoundland. He currently volunteers bour Authority Conference was held Newfoundland and Labrador Department with 18 local organizations, including on March 4 and 5 in Charlottetown. of Municipal and Provincial Affairs and St. Lawrence Anglican Church, the Loyal Described as a great success, the the Confederation Volunteer Service Orange Lodge and the Belleoram volun- conference was a good opportunity Medal from the Government of teer fire department, as well as the for members, Small Craft Harbours Newfoundland and Labrador. harbour authority. staff, provincial agencies and indus- try partners to meet and discuss issues facing harbour authorities, and highlight the important contribution New Environmental Fact Sheets that dedicated volunteers make to the program. One of the initiatives dis- for Harbour Authorities cussed was a plan to make the harbour authorities program more visible both within and outside of the Introduced at the Pacific Region annual conference in January, a new series of environ- Department of Fisheries and Oceans, mental fact sheets developed by Small Craft Harbours, Pacific Region, supports the and renew interest and pride in these region’s clean harbour initiatives, promoting environmental awareness and manage- groups within the communities. For ment in Pacific Region harbours. more conference coverage and other Designed with harbour authorities in mind, the fact sheets convey environmental stories from the Maritimes, please concepts, best management practices and guidelines for harbour projects in one-page see the next issue of Harbour handouts, and cover issues such as environmental management plans, harbour wash- Authorities Forum. rooms, vessel pump-out facilities and storm water management.

Harbour Authorities Forum 5 Tall Ships, Big Crowds

Steveston Harbour, on the outskirts of Operations Manager. “The most the village harbour. Except for space for the Tall Richmond, British Columbia, is the largest of Steveston had seen before that was Ships themselves, no additional moorage commercial fishing harbour in Canada, 40,000 for our annual salmon festival!” was available for visitors. Access roads home to more than 600 commercial fish- Several measures preserved the normal were kept clear and part-time harbour ing vessels. Even so, harbour authority working operations of the harbour during authority employees worked extra hours personnel found their resources stretched the onslaught of visitors. “Keeping to assist with security. As a final measure, to the limit when 24 Tall Ships arrived in harbour service open to fishers was my fishers were given identifying necklaces to early August for the City of Richmond’s main responsibility,” says Mr. Baziuk. allow them preferential movement in and Tall Ships 2002 event. Since the harbour is quite large, he was out of the harbour. “We had more than 400,000 visitors able to keep most of the event activity in four days,” exclaims Bob Baziuk, away from the commercial section of the

Above, crowds gather at Garry Point Park in Steveston to watch the Parade of Sail of 24 Tall Ships last August. More than 400,000 people attended the four-day event. Left, the Nippon Maru. Photos by Bob Baziuk. Labrador’s Short Summers A Busy Time for Harbour Authorities

Short summers make for busy summers of Labrador is an example of work that of concrete, packing it into 1400 kg bags at harbours in Labrador. All fishing, incorporated several measures to ensure ready to mix with water in a concrete construction, repairs and delivery of fast and efficient construction. The addi- mixer. food, fuel and other supplies must take tion of close-faced fender piles to the All this pre-constructed material, place in the short four-to-six-month wharf brought much needed wave protec- including a completed electrical building period between the ice leaving the tion (previously, waves would swamp — ready to connect to the local electricity harbours as late as mid-July and boats at the wharf). The use of concrete system and provide electrical service at freeze-up in early December. deck panels sped up construction and the wharf — was loaded onto a barge in “We [Small Craft Harbours and the improved the surface of the wharf. Halifax and moved to Makkovik. It arrived harbour authorities] are always looking “We pre-made as many of the compo- in time for the start of the area’s construc- for ways to get as much as possible done nents as possible,” says Gordon Spencer tion season on August 1, 2002. Work on in the time available,” explains Wayne of Waterworks Construction of Halifax. the 68 m dogleg wharf finished at the end Bungay, Area Chief, Central Newfoundland Pre-made components included a steel pile- of November. “And the harbour iced in the and Labrador. driving template, 3.0 m by 3.7 m concrete first week of December,” says Mr. Bungay. A recent wharf extension and renova- deck panels and concrete pile cap forms. tion project in Makkovik on the east coast The company also pre-mixed 400 tonnes

6 Harbour Authorities Forum Saving Time, Money and the Environment

Recent advances in dredging and marine to their high costs — are done less methods, but delivered much better qual- construction are not only reducing envi- frequently but with much higher volumes ity, says Mr. Spencer. ronmental damage but also are often saving and impact,” Mr Rowland explains. “The “Pre-construction of the deck panels harbour authorities time and money. tendency with more expensive methods is allowed quality control not possible on In the past 10 years, fewer cranes have to overdredge, which can have a higher site,” explains Mr. Spencer. The concrete been used in dredging, reports marine impact than necessary on the environment.” for each 3.0 m by 3.7 m panel was poured engineer Brian Riggs of Riggs Engineering onto a large vibrating table, which settled Innovative floating break- Ltd. in Ontario. There’s been an increase the wet concrete more effectively than in the use of backhoes for dredging and water construction kits tamping. The 20 cm thick panels were skilled crane operators are becoming then steam-cured and finished to exact scarce. Some backhoes, called long-stick using recycled 1 m specifications. This ensured correct align- backhoes, are equipped with arms up to ment and connection of an electrical con- 18 m long, giving them nearly the same diameter gas pipeline have duit inside each panel (for electrical jetty reach as cranes. mounts and wharf lights) once on site. Hydraulic dredging is also becoming been designed for Pacific Lately, construction or repair of wharf more common. This method, which sucks decking often includes the addition of water and sediment off the bottom, was Region harbour authorities. catchment systems for potentially conta- formerly only seen in large-scale dredging minated run-off from wharves and work operations. Depending on the composition Marine construction techniques have areas, says Mr. Rowland. The water is of the dredged material and its possible evolved, too. directed to a drain that allows interception contamination from the run-off of agricul- “To the best of our knowledge, the use and treatment of spills and contaminated tural pesticides or heavy metals, it is of pre-cast concrete deck panels in the sediment. either pumped back into the water some Makkovik, Newfoundland and Labrador, Innovative floating breakwater construc- distance from the harbour or pumped on wharf extension project was a first for tion kits using recycled 1 m diameter gas shore and filtered to catch the sediment. both Public Works [and Government pipeline have been designed for Pacific The water is returned to the harbour and Services Canada] and the Newfoundland Region harbour authorities, says the dredged material trucked away. and Labrador coast,” comments Gordon Mr. Rowland. Simple and inexpensive, the To lessen a dredging operation’s impact Spencer, Vice-president of Waterworks pipes are assembled in continuous pairs, on the environment, the use of silt curtains Construction in Halifax, the company that like a catamaran hull, with the option to is becoming more common, adds Mr. Riggs. carried out the work. The project showed place decking on top. A silt curtain (a fine-mesh fabric suspended similar costs to that of conventional from floats) is frequently placed around the dredging area to contain sediments disturbed during the dredging operation. New Dredging Techniques Put to the Test Though only environmentally appropri- New dredging techniques are ensuring safe passage for the vessels of two small ate in certain locations, another extremely craft harbours on Lake Erie. Recent low water levels in the Great Lakes combined economical dredging method is the “prop with normal sediment accumulation made the work necessary. wash,” says Adrian Rowland, Regional At Wheatley, a silt curtain kept dredged silt from drifting and spreading away Engineer with Small Craft Harbours in from the dredging site during a dredging operation in the fall of 2002. The three- Pacific Region. This technique uses the basin harbour is located at the mouth of Muddy Creek. The silt posed a possible current or “wash” from a tug boat’s risk of contaminating the surrounding waters with heavy metals and agricultural propellers to move fine sand out of the pesticides. The dredged material, removed by long-stick backhoe, was trucked to a harbour and back into the natural sedi- nearby municipal landfill site in leak-proof dump trucks. ment regime. Fast, easy and economical, At Erieau-Rondeau harbour, a hydraulic pumping system will move a 25-year prop wash dredging can be done annually, accumulation of sand that has reduced clearance in the channel to 1.5 m in some moving only as much material as neces- places, according to George Melton, Harbour Manager. The removed sand will be sary to maintain safe harbour conditions. cast back into the water some distance to the east of the channel. This work is “Like sweeping off the walkway, this planned for this spring. approach can replace methods that — due

Harbour Authorities Forum 7 Grande-Entrée Harbour Gets a New Look

In 2002, the dream of the Grande-Entrée harbour authority finally came true: its fishing harbour has been enlarged. The Grande-Entrée harbour was devel- oped in the early 1970s to accommodate 60 boats whose dimensions at that time were approximately 9 m x 3 m. Thirty years later, the harbour was accommodating up to 125 modern boats that could reach 13 m x 5 m. According to Luc Boucher, What a difference! The Grand-Entrée harbour before (left) and after (right) its enlargement. Area Program Manager with Small Craft Harbours and Real Property in the Quebec The Grande-Entrée harbour authority The enlargement allowed Region, “congestion of the basin was com- has played an important role in designing promising circulation and catch landings and carrying out the project. As its presi- for a new basin that in the harbour.” The enlargement allowed dent, Roland Cyr, explains, “as well as for a new basin that includes 52 additional collaborating closely with the Department includes 52 additional berthing spaces. Most of the work will be of Fisheries and Oceans, we got all the finished in time for the opening of the users together to choose the development 2003 season. Some minor work will need plan that was best suited to their needs.” berthing spaces. to be finished in September.

Where There’s Smoke … There Should be a Fire-fighting Plan

A major harbour fire in Tofino, British Bay and Sointula (representing harbour Despite the wintery air and frigid waters, Columbia, in the summer of 2001 did more authorities, local fire departments and participants enthusiastically finished the than destroy one fishing vessel and seri- Town of Port McNeill public works course with some simulated fire situations ously damage two others. “It was quite a employees) attended. in the Port McNeill small craft harbour. wake-up call,” says Mike Doutaz, Small The two-day workshop curriculum was These simulations included not only Craft Harbours Area Chief for Vancouver developed and taught by Captain John billows of smoke, panicked shouting and Island. “The debriefing session showed us Lewis of SeaFire Training, a Surrey com- faulty equipment but also fire victims and quite clearly that there was a lack of fire- pany specializing in marine fire-fighting fire fighters falling into the water. fighting knowledge, preparedness and coor- training. The workshop teaches fire-fighting “Everything that could go wrong did!” dination among harbour stakeholders.” skills and encourages harbour authorities, exclaims Hiltje Binner, Harbour Manager In light of this, Pacific Region Small local fire departments and harbour-based of the host harbour. “It was a great learn- Craft Harbours personnel developed a fire business operators to work as a team. ing experience that highlighted areas response training workshop, reports The course first covers various vessel needing improvements in our harbour.” Mr. Doutaz. The first of these workshops, types, areas where fires are likely to start, Among the improvements planned for the called Marine Fire Fighting for Land- and techniques for locating and control- Port McNeill harbour, Ms. Binner says, Based Fire Fighters, was held in Tofino ling fires on board a boat. Participants are ladders at the end of docks, more fire shortly after the harbour fire. It was such then practise what they’ve learned in a extinguishers, an enlarged detailed a success that Small Craft Harbours tabletop exercise simulating a fire in a harbour map for her office (which would decided to continue offering the workshop. real harbour. During this exercise, they be the command centre in an emergency The second workshop was held on the also begin to appreciate the necessity for situation) and regular practice sessions last weekend of November 2002 in Port quick and appropriate decision making with the Port McNeill Fire Department. McNeill, British Columbia. Twenty partici- and teamwork in an emergency situation, pants from Port McNeill, Port Hardy, Alert explains Captain Lewis.

8 Harbour Authorities Forum Study Looks at Aquaculture and Harbours

A study commissioned by Small Craft “But since their operations are in the harbour facilities to respond to concerns Harbours in Maritimes Region identifies smaller coves and bays, and they’re not about bio-security. the impact of the rapidly growing aqua- looking for extra wharfage, there’s been Finally, the study finds that industry culture industry on harbour usage and little impact or problem in our area.” consolidation is occurring and recommends harbour authorities in southwestern The study notes that Small Craft Harbours’ that aquaculture industry representatives New Brunswick and makes several mandate, role and relationship with the join harbour planning committees and recommendations for the future. aquaculture industry should be reviewed take a stronger role in the management of The study found that the aquaculture to determine questions of funding, cons- harbours. The study also recommends industry has evolved into a major client truction and ownership of specialized that fee structures be redesigned to reflect group for harbours and harbour authorities facilities and continued planning. It also vessel berthing, the volume of material over the last 15 years, with an expected recommends that industry and govern- shipped over the wharf, and the use of continued growth rate of 10 to 15 percent ment study the need for specialized wharf deck space and of other services. per year. For example, more than 300 aqua- culture vessels currently use the 24 small craft harbours of southwestern New Health and Safety Brunswick alone. The study finds that Training Essential industry consolidation is A harbour authority’s lease with Small Craft Harbours states, among other things, occurring and recommends that the board of directors is “responsible for the safe operation of the harbour.” As the activities around a harbour diversify beyond commercial fishing to include that aquaculture industry aquaculture, tourism and environmental clean-up, the variety of hazards and proba- bility of accidents increases. Health and safety training helps keep everyone representatives join informed and safe. harbour planning “Health and safety training serves as a tool to help harbour authorities become good stewards of harbour properties and to meet their leasehold obligations committees. respecting a safe working environment,” explains Adrian Hynes, Chief of Property, Small Craft Harbours, Newfoundland and Labrador Region. In addition to problems of congestion in Ultimately safety is everyone’s job; however, legislative jurisdiction is not always these harbours and a lack of adequate clear. Typically, a harbour consists of federally owned land and improvements berthage for boats larger than commercial leased to a harbour authority whose activities and those of its clients (harbour fishing boats, heavier than anticipated users) fall under provincial legislation and regulations. This means that a harbour use of harbour facilities increases the authority may have to comply with two laws: the Canada Labour Code and provincial frequency of maintenance. health and safety legislation. Mr. Hynes recommends that, when in doubt, harbour “Yet, all these considerations aside, authorities should consult their Small Craft Harbours representative. As a mini- aquaculture is a reality and we need to mum, harbour authorities are advised to use health and safety training and prac- understand it,” says Benson Milner, Area tices that follow provincial guidelines. Chief, Small Craft Harbours and Assets in Some provincial governments offer health and safety training courses to their Maritimes Region. Though there are still residents. In other provinces, independent health and safety training companies many questions to be answered, he wel- provide this training. In either case, provincial occupational health and safety comes the study’s findings as a first step offices across the country can offer advice on finding a suitable training program in helping the two industries work together. (for a listing of the provincial offices and contact information, check the Small Craft In other regions, the aquaculture indus- Harbours Web site). Training companies offer a wide variety of courses, from half- try — since it uses different areas of the day to full, week-long seminars, says Jackie Manuel, Director, Occupational Health coastline — has little impact on the tradi- and Safety, Department of Labour, Newfoundland and Labrador. tional fishery. “Though the industry is When looking for a training program, Ms. Manuel recommends checking the larger today, it’s been around for a long company’s reputation with other harbour authorities and businesses as well as time,” explains Gary Sooley, Area Chief for asking for references and the qualifications of the trainers. Eastern and Southern Newfoundland.

Harbour Authorities Forum 9 A Winning “Ecollaboration”

What would you do if your harbour’s access road and winter stor- age basin were slowly turning into a beach? Faced with damage caused by dune erosion in Millerand harbour, Quebec’s Havre-Aubert harbour authority asked the same question. The answer was in the form of collaboration between the harbour authority and the municipality of the Îles-de-la-Madeleine, a collaboration facilitated by Department of Fisheries and Oceans officers. The Îles-de-la-Madeleine are connected The encroaching sand at Millerand harbour hindered access to harbour facilities. by dune ridges that are kept in repair by the municipality’s engineers and techni- cians. The municipality put this vast dune repair experience at the service of the Dear Harby harbour authority to help it solve its silting problem. Together, the members of the harbour Fee collection is a major problem at our harbour. authority and municipality personnel Have you any suggestions on how we might deal determined that the beach next to the with delinquent accounts? harbour lacked marram grass, a plant that This is an excellent question. Harbour fees may seem to be an unwelcome or arbi- ensures dune stability. From there, they trary charge for a traditional community resource; however, since 100 percent of developed and implemented a three-part the fees stay in the community, they are vital to the management and maintenance action plan. They first replaced the sand of the harbour and, by extension, the life of the community. deposits in the winter storage basin with Some harbours are fortunate enough to have little or no problem collecting fees, gravel. They then extracted part of the while others face severe economic difficulties because of unpaid fees. The National marram grass contained in these deposits Harbour Authority Advisory Committee (NHAAC) has discussed this matter and to restore the slope of the small dune that identified some of the following practices that harbour authorities have found to be borders the access road to Millerand effective in collecting harbour fees. harbour. Finally, they installed a sand A discount incentive for advance payment can be beneficial to both fishers and catcher to prevent sand from encroaching harbour authorities, creating savings in time and money. on the access road. A person who is at the harbour full time and who can collect fees can be a posi- Thanks to this collaboration, the harbour tive influence for those who, embarrassed by their delinquent status, try to avoid authority found an ecological solution to its meeting other harbour users and harbour authority members. While having silting problem, and the municipality was someone at the harbour on a full-time basis is not always practical or feasible, it able to use the remainder of the deposits is an option worth considering at fee payment time. for its own dune repair work. Posting the names of users as they pay their fees, on a public bulletin board at The members of the National Harbour the harbour, might encourage those who are delinquent yet capable of paying. Authority Advisory Committee will be able For those who genuinely cannot afford to pay harbour fees, arranging work in to see these results during their next lieu of payment is a good option. This “barter system” has proven to be highly meeting, which will be held in the Îles-de- successful in the past in a variety of situations. la-Madeleine. If you have any ideas on how to facilitate fee collection or have success stories you can share, please pass them on to your regional advisory council or association.

10 Harbour Authorities Forum