Sable Island named national park
Posted Oct 17, 2011 10:46:25 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Nova Scotia government has reached a deal with Ottawa to make Sable Island the country’s latest national park.
“The federal government is committed to expanding Canada’s protected areas so that current and future generations can continue to enjoy them,” Defence Minister Peter MacKay said during the announcement at Citadel Hill.
Premier Darrell Dexter signed the agreement in Halifax with Peter Kent, the minister responsible for Parks Canada to protect the crescent-shaped island, its 400 wild horses, breeding grey seals and numerous bird species.
However the Environment Minister said the agreement does not rule out possible future seal culls.
“We manage species populations at all of our parks and there are times when hyper-abundant species need to be managed to protect the balance and the existence of other species,” said Kent, pointing to the moose hunting licenses being issued in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Nova Scotia and Ottawa will table legislation to prohibit oil and gas drilling from the surface of Sable Island and out to one nautical mile from shore.
Premier Dexter explained petroleum companies are voluntarily amending their licenses to come in line with the new protection rules.
However the agreement does not prevent horizontal drilling, which would allow for drilling under the island.
The island, which is 42 kilometers long, is also known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic for the more than 200 wrecked ships off its coastline.
