The President of the Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association says they’re pleased to see a growing number of elected officials questioning or disputing the boundary of a proposed National Marine Protected Area off the south coast of Newfoundland.

The South Coast Fjords National Marine Conservation Area will stretch along the coastline from McCallum to La Poile.

Fish farmers believe that Ottawa and Parks Canada are being lobbied by activist groups, including the Atlantic Salmon Federation and the Ecology Action Centre.

Aquaculture President Sheldon George is concerned about the potential impact on both farmed and commercial fishing industries.

George says five other Marine Protected Areas have been established in Canada “and in all five of those areas, fishing and aquaculture has been…negatively affected.” He says they have concerns that the same thing will happen here if the Marine Protected Area for the south coast is established as is currently proposed.

Premier Andrew Furey, Minister Elvis Loveless, Mayor of Hermitage / Sandy Cove Steve Crewe, and MP Clifford Small have all spoken out against the proposal.