Fish kill 'unfortunate,' says minister

Buffer zone legislation is working to prevent fish kills, despite two incidents in P.E.I. rivers on the weekend, says Environment Minister George Webster.

Webster calls the two major fish kills this week on the Tryon and Dunk Rivers "unfortunate and disappointing," but also said he believes buffer zone legislation has resulted in fewer fish kills in recent years. The province is making progress in protecting waterways, he said, but the Island received very heavy rain on the weekend and the current systems didn't hold up.

"As a result we have an issue that's under investigation and we will determine what happened in the end here. It will take us several weeks but we will find the answer that we need on this particular issue," he said.

"We'll make changes if we feel the need to resolve these issues, so that Islanders don't have to experience these anymore."

Webster said all buffer zones in the area of the fish kills will be inspected to ensure buffer zone regulations were met. The province will do whatever it can to ensure the rivers rebound quickly.

The province's buffer zonelegislation requires farmers to maintain a 10-metre zone between agricultural fields and waterways.

Organic production only solution: Labchuk

But the interim leader of the Green party of P.E.I. says eliminating the use of chemical pesticides is the only way to ensure there will be no more fish kills on the Island. Sharon Labchuk said the kills are further proof of the need for the island to turn to organic agriculture.

"Yes, we've had a break for a few years, but that was a lucky break," said Labchuk.

"There is no way that any measures this government can take outside of turning to organic agriculture can eliminate fish kills. You spray chemicals known to kill fish in the vicinity of streams and sooner or later, you'll have dead fish. You cannot get away from it."

Labchuk said she's tired of asking the province to take action against this problem. She says it's time for Islanders to mobilize and demand a ban on pesticides.

There were a number of major fish kills on the Island from 2002 to 2004. Following the introduction of new regulations regarding the practice of agriculture, there were no major kills in 2005 and 2006.