Louisiana oil spill shows need to extend Georges Bank moratorium: advocates
Posted May 5, 2010 05:48:22 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has environmentalists in Nova Scotia urging the Dexter government to extend a moratorium on oil and gas drilling on the Georges Bank.
The government has to decide by June whether it plans to extend or review the drilling ban on the rich fishing grounds, and the thousands of litres of oil spilling into the Gulf of Mexico is adding weight to those arguing the province needs to extend the moratorium.
Mark Butler of the Ecology Action Centre says the massive spill may be a worst case scenario, but it shows it can happen.
“We thought, obviously, even before this that the risks were too great,” he said. “And this shows just what can happen and what the consequences can be when things go badly wrong.”
The Georges Bank fishery is worth some $200 million for Canadian fishermen.
Energy Minister Bill Estabrooks says there’s no question he’s hearing concerns in light of the U.S. disaster.
“The local people in my constituency, based upon what they’re seeing on television and what they’re saying to their local MLA, they have issues and concerns,” said Estabrooks. “Let’s call it like it is: this is an emotinoal issue and and issue of real consequence to Nova Scotians.”
The Obama administration has extended a moratorium on its share of the Georges Bank until 2017.
