P.E.I. farm faces federal charge linked to 2016 fish kill

A P.E.I. farm faces a charge under the federal Fisheries Act, in connection with a fish kill that happened two years ago.

Skye ViewFarms, in Elmwood, is charged with permitting the release of a substance deleterious to fish.

The charge relates to a fish kill reported on the Clyde River in July2016.

Federal chargefollows conviction under provincial law

Skye ViewFarms is owned by well-known Island farmer Alex Docherty.

He was fined $1,000 in July 2017 after an investigation into that same fish kill.

That fine was under the provincial legislation for allowing his pesticide applicator'slicence to expire.

Dochertyhas been an outspoken critic of chargesagainst members of the farming community in connection to fish kills.

At thetime of the previous case last year, Dochertyargued that extremely heavy rainfall,notfarming practices, caused soil fromfields to wash into the river.

The new charge, under the federal Fisheries Act, was filed in October by Environment and Climate Change Canada. Docherty and his adult son, Logan, are named in the court filing.

The charge against the Dochertys and Skye View Farms is now making its way through provincial court.Following a brief hearing Monday in Charlottetown,attended by a lawyer for Skye View Farms, the case was adjourned until January.

It followsanother recent casethat of Brookfield Gardens and a fish kill on the North River four years ago in which a $15,000 fine was handed down.

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