Fishers in eastern Nova Scotia have grave concerns about plan for whale sanctuary

A group representing about 140 commercial fishing ventures on Nova Scotia’s eastern shore says it has grave concerns about a plan to build North America’s first coastal refuge for whales retired from marine theme parks.

Ginny Boudreau, manager of the Guysborough County Inshore Fishermen’s Association, says the group hasn’t spoken out about the Whale Sanctuary Project before because members never thought it would become a reality.

But that changed in October when the Nova Scotia government granted the project’s organizers a 20-year lease for 83 hectares of Crown lands and coastal waters near Wine Harbour, N.S.

Boudreau says association members are worried about being denied access to the bay where the Whale Sanctuary Project hopes to build a 40-hectare enclosure that would be anchored to the sea floor.

Among other things, Boudreau says local fishers are also worried that whales imported from afar might spread disease and parasites among the local population of marine mammals.

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A spokesperson for the Whale Sanctuary Project could not be immediately reached for comment.