Sewage plan worries P.E.I. Shellfish Association

The P.E.I. Shellfish Association is not happy about the plans to pipe Stratford's sewage waste to Charlottetown for treatment.

The province and the municipalities announced those plans Thursday.

• Stratford and Charlottetown consolidate sewage treatment

Association president Brenda Campbell is concerned about a large area of the Hillsborough River being closed to shellfishing.

"You have to be so many meters from any plant, any wastewater plant in P.E.I.," said Campbell.

"You can't fish there at any time. Doesn't mean the fish aren't there, you just can't fish them. Ours is the only industry that takes a direct financial hit any time there is a closure on the Hillsborough system."

In addition to a buffer zone, sewage overflows caused by heavy rains can close down sections of the river system. This happened earlier this month.

• Fishing ban lifted on Hillsborough River

Campbell said the association didn't know that the announcement was coming.

The association supported the idea of Stratford building its own sewage treatment plant, an idea for which the province said it would not provide funding.

• MORE P.E.I. NEWS |20 countries before 21: P.E.I. man close to ambitious travel goal
• MORE P.E.I. NEWS |Defence witness testifies Joel Clow too high to intend to kill Traci Lynch