Tag Archives: open oil exploration

‘Perfectly reasonable’ to drill for oil in area closed to fishery, Liberal MP says

St. John’s MP Nick Whalen is standing by a move to open oil exploration bids in a marine refuge that is closed to fishing, even though the move has drawn significant criticism from fish harvesters, scientists and conservation groups. Last December, Fisheries and Oceans Canada announced the closure of what’s called the Northeast Newfoundland Slope to bottom contact fishing. The closure was meant to protect sensitive sponges and corals, and are a vital fish habitat. It’s perfectly reasonable for those areas to be closed to fishing. – Nick Whalen >click to read<14:26