The Chief of We’koqma’q First Nation says the COVID-19 pandemic brought longstanding issues with sportfishers to a head.
Chief Rod Googoo says they asked the DFO to close part of the Whycocomagh Bay to protect communities in the area, and the DFO did on May 6.
He says well over 100 cars were parked along the section of Hwy. 105 running through the heart of the community the weekend before, just after the province removed COVID-19 sportfishing restrictions on May 1.
“In no parking zones, in driveways, in the work area. I’ve got my fish farm workers dodging eighteen wheelers as they’re coming around these vehicles,” he says. “I’m glad it’s over. Somebody was going to get hurt bad or something was going to happen, it was a disaster waiting to happen.”
Googoo says there’s extra issues because of the virus, and sportfishers weren’t respecting physical distancing.
Googoo says closing the bay was the best way to protect themselves and their neighbours.
