Tag Archives: Northern Pulp
Fisherman questions how province can ‘be both the regulator and the sponsor’ for mill’s treatment plan
There was no trust for the province’s Department of Environment on Pictou’s wharves or in its harbour on Friday. “Trust gap? There’s no trust, it’s more than a gap,” said Allan MacCarthy. The Caribou fisherman had brought his vessel, The Red Trapper, to join hundreds of other fishing boats from around Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick for a protest in Pictou Harbour. They were met by a large crowd that also came from around Atlantic Canada to march down to meet them at the Pictou Marina. “The provincial government is heavily compromised in this,” said MacCarthy. “They are paying for it — everybody knows that. So how are they going to be both the regulator and the sponsor?” >click to read<09:11
“NO PIPE, NO WAY” Northern Pulp effluent pipe protest draws huge crowds on land and sea in Pictou
Hundreds of people from all three Maritime provinces gathered Friday in Pictou, N.S., to protest Northern Pulp’s plan to put an effluent pipe into the Northumberland Strait. Many chanted “No pipe, no way” as they marched from the local arena to the town’s waterfront. Organizers estimated at least 1,000 people attended the protest. Dozens of fishing boats and pleasure craft sailed into Pictou Harbour, some flying the Mi’kmaq Grand Council flag. >click to read<18:55
Fishermen not willing to gamble on Northern Pulp effluent pipe – protest on land, sea Friday
Wayne Noel knows a little something about trust. After 37 years of fishing, some days trust is all he has. He has to trust the lobsters will be in the traps and that his sons, Mike and Brian, will be there to do the heavy lifting when he can’t. He trusts that his fellow fishermen will respond when he is in trouble and that his boat, Tall Tales, will take him to and from his fishing grounds without fail. He admits his fishery has disappointed him from time to time, but his trust has never been broken. >click to read<
Northern Pulp effluent protest on land, sea Friday – A #NoPipe land and sea rally will be held Friday on Pictou’s waterfront with people marching in the streets and boats sailing into the harbour to show their concerns over Northern Pulp’s plans to place an effluent pipe into the Northumberland Strait. >click to read<08:06
Ken Johnston – Place: Northumberland Strait; time 2026
This is the tale of J.B. Mc Click and his desire to purchase fishing gear, boat and licence and become part of a strong fraternity, the lobster fisherman of Northumberland Strait. J.B., now 25 years old, recently married and with a child on the way, was thrilled that he had the opportunity to attain his goal . He had worked as a fisherman’s helper, understood the inherent dangers, appreciated the rewards of hard work and could not believe his good fortune. This long-awaited chance to be self employed presented itself at the end of November 2025 when a gentleman with whom he worked offered him the business. There will be more of J. B’s chronicle but allow me to digress and afford you a flashback to the years 2018-20. So much was happening at that tumultuous time surrounding the “Pipe” fiasco so in order for you to digest it all, my plan is to take you on a journey. >click to read<12:51
Fishermen prepare for lobster season
Warren Francis and his family were in high spirits as they readied their brand-new fishing boat at Pictou Landing’s wharf under a sunny spring sky for the upcoming lobster season starting next Monday.,, But fisherman Ronnie Heighton, who sits on the Gulf of Nova Scotia Fleet Planning Board, said that fishermen plying the Northumberland Strait for catches can “live quite happily.” “There’s never a bad day when you fish lobster,”,, However, Heighton states that danger lies ahead for fishermen who rely on the Strait for their livelihoods.>click to read<12:00
Fishermen ask MLAs to avoid another costly mistake with Northern Pulp effluent
The government of Nova Scotia has been working closely with Northern Pulp on a proposed new effluent-treatment facility for the mill. At least $300,000 of taxpayers’ money has been spent on designing the proposed system that would discharge millions of litres of pulp effluent into the Northumberland Strait every day. Our fishing industry will be directly affected, but we were not consulted about the design, and we have received no response to a request to meet with the provincial environment minister. Ronald Heighton, President, Northumberland Fishermen’s Association >click to read<11:20
No pipe in the strait: fisheries groups and First Nations to Northern Pulp
They don’t want pulp effluent in the Northumberland Strait. An alliance has been forged among the Gulf Nova Scotia Fleet Planning Board, the Maritime Fishermen’s Union, the Prince Edward Island Fishermen’s Association (PEIFA), the New Brunswick Fisheries Association and Pictou Landing First Nation. Their purpose is to publicly and officially oppose the proposed discharge of Northern Pulp’s effluent into the Northumberland Strait – and to demand a federal environmental assessment into the matter. >click to read<13:51
Maritime fishermen’s groups pull out of meetings with Northern Pulp
Groups representing fishermen’s associations in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and P.E.I. say they won’t meet with representatives from Northern Pulp unless the paper mill provides an alternative to its plan to pump treated effluent into the Northumberland Strait. On Monday, representatives from the Gulf Nova Scotia Fleet Planning Board (GNSFPB), the Prince Edward Island Fishermen’s Association and the Maritime Fishermen’s Union went public with the decision, which was announced at a meeting with Northern Pulp last Tuesday. “They’re asking us to take all the risk. One hundred per cent of the risk is going to be borne by the fishermen. If something goes wrong, it’s our fishery,” >click to read<14:47
Prince County P.E.I. fishermen assured effluent plans being opposed
It is 326 kilometres away, by road, but a pulp mill in Pictou County, N.S., figured prominently in the Prince County Fishermen’s Association’s recent annual meeting at the O’Leary Legion. The president of the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association, Bobby Jenkins, and then P.E.I. Minister of Fisheries Alan McIsaac made it clear they are adamantly opposed to Northern Pulp pumping effluent from its mill into Northumberland Strait. All members of the Prince County Fishermen’s Association fish in the Northumberland Strait. >click here to read< 08:53 
LETTER: Need thorough, unbiased environmental study
I’d like to address publically, the situation in Pictou County involving Northern Pulp and the subsequent closure of Boat Harbor by 2020 with regards to the ‘replacement’ treatment plan which ultimately includes a pipeline for the treated effluent to be discharged into the Northumberland Strait which is part of the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence.,,, It should also be noted that the new home of the end of the purposed pipeline is the heart of LFA 26. (Lobster Fishing Areas – there are 41 LFA’s in Canada, of them, LFA 26 as a whole is amongst the highest producers in tonnage of annual lobsters landed). I’m highlighting lobster as this is the main source of revenue for the 1000 plus fishers that fish this zone commercially. John Collins, Alma Road click here to read the story 18:48
LETHBRIDGE: Pulp friction grips Pictou once again
Pictou County is a community torn asunder by the smell, foam and brown water of money. The controversy over Northern Pulp — known locally as “The Mill” — has been ripping apart families, neighbours and businesses. This is the toxic byproduct of economic output from the plant, and the jobs it generates in rural Nova Scotia. This week, wounds were ripped open again, as Northern Pulp announced a plan to pump effluent into the Northumberland Strait. The mill is facing a January 2020 deadline to replace the treatment facility at Boat Harbour. click here to read the story 15:08
First Nation, fishermen distrust Northern Pulp wastewater treatment plan
There’s too much risk and not nearly enough trust to bring Northern Pulp’s plan for a new wastewater treatment facility to fruition, according to Andrea Paul, the chief of the Pictou Landing First Nation, and scores of fishermen and residents in Pictou County.,,, Concerned Northumberland Strait fishermen met with the company on Monday and two public consultations were held on Tuesday and Wednesday.,,, Speaking on behalf of the Northumberland Fisheries Association, lobster fisherman Allan MacCarthy said the Monday meeting did not offer any answers. click here to read the story 10:42
Fishermen worry Northern Pulp treatment plan will create ‘dead zone’
Northern Pulp met with some of its toughest critics Monday as it opened public consultations on a new effluent treatment facility for the Pictou County pulp mill. Dustin MacKeil was one of dozens of skeptical fishermen invited for a private briefing by the company at the Pictou County Wellness Centre. “The lies from the government, the lies from Northern Pulp — how can you trust them? Their track record is no good at all,” said MacKeil. He believes the proposed outfall threatens several fisheries in the area. click here to read the story 09:56
