South coast fish farms survived Fiona; 'industry was lucky'

Local and international media organizations are reporting that Atlantic Canadian fish farms were spared from Fiona’s wrath, with no fish deaths or damage to at-sea infrastructure reported among the farms located from Placentia Bay to Burgeo.

CBC photo.

Undercurrent news reports the “Bays West” area of Newfoundland — from Bay d’Espoir west towards Burgeo and Port-aux-Basques — had a “rough ride.”

Undercurrent quoted a source saying the aquaculture industry was lucky — a little west and Fiona would have hit the Bay of Fundy, and a little east the hurricane would have slammed into the Cannaigre Peninsula, or Fortune and Placentia Bays.

Saltwire news quotes officials with producers Mowi and Cooke Aquaculture saying salmon operations in the region were not harmed by the storm.

PEI is reporting damage to oyster and mussel farms, but the dollar value is still being assessed.

Lobster fishermen in New Brunswick had time to remove their boats from the water before Fiona hit, but not their lobster traps — with tens of thousands lost at a cost of $300 each.

The fishermen are looking for an extension to their season.

Ryan Cleary,

Executive Director, SEA-NL

Seaward Enterprises Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (SEA-NL) is a professional, non-profit organization serving as the distinct voice for licensed, independent owner-operator inshore fish harvesters. You can read more about SEA-NL, and join us here.