Fishermen Block Entrance to Donkin Mine in Canada

 

 

By Sharon Montgomery-Dupe

September 18, 2018 - Angry fishermen say a blockage of the entrance to the Donkin Mine on Tuesday is just the beginning if something isn’t done about the mine’s plans to ruin their industry.

“We need immediate action on issues or we’re going to come back and do this again,” said Port Morien fisherman Don Messenger.

 

Port Morien fisherman Don Messenger, left, talks to Donkin Mine vice president Shannon Campbell

Messenger said many of them don’t want coal transportation by barging, rail or by road, they simply want the mine to close.

They are hearing seismic testing is scheduled within the next couple weeks but other issues include barging, contamination of their lobsters and the impact on the fishermen’s livelihood.

“When seismic comes and the contamination of the coal, it’s going to destroy this fishery,” he said.

“We want the mine to shut down. There’s no benefit to Cape Breton with this mine. The long term and short-term effects are going to destroy this industry.”

On Tuesday, fishermen coming from as far as Membertou, Port Morien and Glace Bay blocked the mine entrance with their vehicles citing concerns about the mine’s plans to barge coal and do seismic testing which they say will ruin their industry.

The protest was organized at the spur of the moment but more fishermen continued to gather as hearing about it Tuesday resulting in about 20 at the scene within a couple hours.

In the meantime, at least five coal trucks were lined up on the side of the highway unable to access the mine and traffic exiting the mine was also held up.

 

Coal trucks were lined up near the entrance of the Donkin Mine on Tuesday morning, unable to access the mine after angry fishermen blocked the entrance.

Four members of the Cape Breton Regional Police Service were on the scene but chatted with the fishermen, describing it as a peaceful protest.

“We’re just here maintaining the peace for the time being,” said Sgt. Wayne Forgeron.

At about 11 a.m. Donkin Mine vice president Shannon Campbell arrived at the mine pleading with the fishermen to go somewhere else to talk.

“I want to make sure things are safe first and it’s not safe here right now,” he said.

“I’m absolutely willing to go wherever you want to have a chat.”

However, fishermen said they wanted to know if the mine was okay with destroying the fishing industry.

“I’ll send everyone home right now and we won’t bother you ever again when you shut this mine down,” Messenger said.

“You’re going to destroy our livelihood, there’s no negotiating there.”

Other fishermen said they weren’t there to have a discussion, they were there to make a point.

Fishermen told Campbell the seismic testing would harm the fishery, affect the quality of lobsters and bring the price down and value of their enterprises down.

Campbell iterated they needed to work together to find solutions.

“I’ll be happy to have that discussion with you all day long,” he said.

“We can’t talk here. Let’s go somewhere to talk about this.”

Rodney Billard of Glace Bay, who fishes in Morien, said what they want is for the Donkin Mine to leave their water along.

“We don’t’ want any piers and we don’t want any barges,” he said.

“Find another way.”

Campbell said the reason they held a recent meeting in Port Morien was to hear from the fishermen.

“And we want to continue to talk about this.”

However, fishermen Raymond Christmas of Membertou said the Donkin Mine didn’t consult with them.

“The last time you guys met you didn’t include us.”

Christmas, fishing lobster and snow crab 26 years, said he was at the protest for support but they do come through the fishing area in question.

“If they barge it’s going to knock everyone’s livelihood out of here.”

“We do have fishermen here out of Glace Bay and Port Morien that are going to be affected.”

“We’re not going to let them do this alone, we’re going to stand with everyone here.”

Messenger told Campbell even if they talk and a decision was made to transport coal by rail, it would still harm their fishery through the dust.

“How do we sell our lobster that have cancer in them?”

“I’d be happy to have these discussions all day long but not right here,” Campbell responded.

Fishermen also questioned the lack of scientific data to prove the coal mines plans won’t hurt their industry.

 

“We could hire experts and run the numbers,” Campbell answered.

Messenger said the mine had four years to do that.

“Yes, because we didn’t find anything wrong with it,” Campbell added.

Messenger said the only answer was to shut the mine down.

“I think you’re getting a bit off topic,” Campbell responded.

“How can we sell lobsters without a market?” Messenger asked.

Campbell asked the fishermen what exactly they want.

“We don’t want you in the water at all,” one responded.

After about an hour of a heated discussion, Campbell said he needed to let the trucks into the mine and the backed-up traffic inside, out.

 

“I need to get the ship running here.”