Editor:
After three years of tracking the issue of toxics at Hyak Marine, I am glad to see that this site is finally going to be investigated properly. I know some folks who would like to use this issue as a proxy in their battle against the George, but I feel it is a more fundamental issue. It’s about the sea life dwelling around us and our responsibility not to harm it.
Some of the contaminants at this site include mercury and tributyltin, among the most toxic substances to aquatic organisms. George-related construction may stir up soils and sediments and release these toxins into the harbour, where they may hit coho and cutthroat from Charman Creek, herring spawning in the harbour or eelgrass beds just outside the breakwaters. This may mar their habitat irreparably or result in one or a series of fish kills. If that happened, it would be under our watch and because of our neglect. It would put the lie to our repeated “concern for the environment.”
This may feel like making a big deal out of a trivial matter. It’s the excuse we’ve always used to fool ourselves and evade our responsibilities. This time around, I hope that we do better.
Andre Sobolewski, Gibsons
