The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) has agreed to drop a BC Supreme Court action against Sea Farms Inc. and Desolation Sound Oysters Ltd. in exchange for a little peace and quiet in Gorge Harbour on Cortes Island.
The agreement is the result of a mediated settlement process commenced in early 2011. The aquaculture operators have agreed to meet or exceed the Environmental Code of Practice adopted by the BC Shell Fish Association.
Specifically, they will ensure that any noise caused by harvesting operations does not exceed 65 decibels at adjacent properties and that they will attempt to acquire a new harvesting vessel with noise level reduction capabilities.
In exchange, the regional district has agreed to discontinue the court action it launched in 2009 which sought to declare the above Cortez operations in violation of local zoning bylaws.
SRD Board Chair Craig Anderson said: “The regional district appreciates the willingness of the operators to find a resolution to this dispute through a mediated settlement process and to voluntarily adopt a position of being good corporate neighbours to the Gorge Harbour community.”