Dear Editor,
There’s always going to be some disruption of the way things were when a new MPA is put in place.
But after doing some basic research about MPAs around the world, I learned that most communities adapted to new MPAs, and that in fact, some area benefited hugely.
The best examples I found were around New Zealand. They were one of the leaders in creating MPAs. Right now the fishermen of NZ would have a fit if anyone were to threaten any ocean nursery around their country. The reasons are simple and straightforward. They all fish around these ocean nurseries. As long as no one breaks the rules, there are always fish.
So if you are a young person planning to borrow money $500K, I would strongly suggest you do so right away before the costs go up even further. If the fisher folks of the Eastern Shore were to get together and market MPA-sourced or caught lobster and fish, they would inevitably be able to command more money for their product.
And an MPA will drive up property values; living on the edge of the largest and prettiest ocean protected area will only make moving here more appealing to folks trying to get away from the hustle& bustle of Ontario & Alberta.
Big business will have a harder time destroying things if there’s an MPA in place. We should be thanking the Federal government for what one marine biologist told me was a great “gift.”
As for McNeil being against this ocean nursery, give your head a shake: he’s hoping Big Problem oil [B.P.] find some thing off our coastline. If a MPA makes you nervous, just wait till someone wants to put an oil platform in amongst our islands!
Robert Tilden, Tangier
