Closure of Wilson's Beach wharf leads to concerns about future

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) recently closed the wharf at Wilson's Beach, Campobello, citing structural safety concerns that arose during an inspection of the pilings and cribwork.

Harlow Kinney, president of the Campobello Harbour Authority, posted a notice on December 22 that ordered all vessels to vacate their berths immediately and to relocate to the wharves at either Malloch Beach on North Road or Head Harbour. Fencing and barricades have been installed to prevent access, and the wharf is closed to all traffic.

While a loss to the Campobello community, the closure of the Wilson's Beach wharf may be more significant as a harbinger of things to come. In recent years, Campobello has only three working federal wharves. In addition to Wilson's Beach there are wharves at North Road, just above Welshpool, and Head Harbour, at the northern tip of Campobello, near the Head Harbour Lighthouse. These two, while not condemned like Wilson's Beach, are in need of serious attention. The outer part of North Road is in poor shape and will be fenced off in the coming week, according to Amanda Matthews of the Campobello Island Harbour Authority.

Some of the pilings that support the wharf at Head Harbour, the main wharf on the island and already at capacity, are largely eaten away. If repairs are not made soon, it, too, could see restrictions on its use.

Campobello Mayor Harvey Matthews, who is a fisherman and operator of Point Star Seafoods, has a more nuanced response to the situation. "As mayor, I am of course saddened by the loss of the Wilson's Beach wharf, especially for tourists and visitors to the island. But, from a fishing perspective, it isn't so important. The bulk of the fishing fleet is based at Head Harbour, so that wharf's maintenance is critical."

Head Harbour is the busiest wharf in Lobster Fishing Area 36, which includes the coastal waters of the lower Bay of Fundy and Passamaquoddy Bay. But when storms come from the east, Head Harbour can be extremely challenging to enter for most vessels. Seas pile up between the lighthouse and Head Harbour Island, making the passage between extremely rough. "That's when North Road becomes so important," says Amanda Matthews. "Boats that can't get into Head Harbour can find safety behind the wharf at North Road." But that's only if it is properly maintained. She suggests that the deteriorated last segment could be removed and the remaining four segments strengthened. It's not clear, though, who will pay for any improvements.

John Williamson, MP for Saint JohnSt. Croix, the riding that includes Campobello, points out that DFO had budgeted only $90 million to take care of approximately 950 small craft harbours across Canada. This averages out to less than $95,000 per harbour, far short of what is actually needed.

For comparison, Williamson mentions that DFO is planning to build a new wharf at its St. Andrews Biological Research Station, whose use is restricted to a handful of DFO vessels, at a cost in excess of $50 million.

Campobello's 100 or more fishermen are concerned about the future of the berths for their vessels, boats that are a major source of employment and income for the islanders. They are worried that the money to make needed repairs will not be available.

"Lobstering is central to life on the island," says Williamson. "Maintenance of infrastructure, especially small craft harbours, should not take a back seat to extravagant spending on the biological station's wharf, when the federal government has underinvested in federal wharves for a decade."