Should Sable Island become a tourist attraction? Earlier this month, federal environment minister Jim Prentice sparked a controversy when he announced the government is considering making the remote island off Nova Scotia’s coast a national park. The idea of herding tourists onto the island raises concerns about putting its fragile ecosystem at risk.
Parker Donham of Contrarian.ca, well-known locally as a columnist and commentator, started a “Hands Off Sable Island” Facebook group, which has over 2,000 members. And the national park announcement surprised environmental groups, including the Sable Island Green Horse Society, which is dedicated to educating the public about the ecologically sensitive island.
Sable Island is currently protected under the Canada Shipping Act and, in practical terms, by its location and treacherousness. It takes dedication, money and expertise to land a boat or plane there. The island’s few visitors are greeted by a handful of staff scientists, who guide them lightly.
But Mark Butler, policy director at the Ecology Action Centre, sees advantages to a national park designation, if implemented properly. National parks come with money, which would allow scientists to continue their research. It could also mean a Sable Island interpretive centre in Halifax.
“There are national parks in the north with very limited infrastructure,” Butler says. “It’s possible to do it without it being an amusement park.”
The EAC is waiting to see a management plan before it takes a position on the matter, but Butler has issues with the process. “They’re assigning a task force to make the decision before consulting the public. The public should make the decision.”
The Green Horse Society is hosting a public meeting about all things Sable Island, 7pm Wednesday, March 3, at Saint Mary’s University.
This article appears in Feb 25 – Mar 3, 2010.
For the love of money, Canada, leave the delicate island alone! Once this story is widely circulated I’m sure the sientists can raise the money they need to continue their work without opening the island up to hordes of gawking tourists. My God! But this government gets some dumb ideas don’t they?
I welcome this; although with a bit of trepidation. Tourism could bring attention to the island itself and the scientific opportunity it presents, instead of being this isolated little slice of beauty that’s only known to locals. I honestly don’t think that the average tourist will want to go here. As mentioned, it’s difficult to get there in the first place, making it only accessible to the most financially able and dedicated of eco-tourists, and I’m sure the park could dictate when and how the tourists deal with the island.
Good idea I think. Has to be watched though to prevent damage.
Really??? Just thinking about the poor animals and beautiful island being horded with tourists makes me sick!!!!! The animals need their privacy to live, so let them have their peace and quiet!GOD!!
I wonder if ponies are tastey ?
We could cull them like we do seals…after all they’re not endangered.
The whole place is a sandspit…which means its all beaches…they should put up a couple of resorts & get tourists in make use of the place instead of leaving it to half starved ponies & seals on the beaches.
One of only a few delicate places in this sick world that is almost untouched. We need places like this to make us realise how beautiful things can be without people ruining them. There are so many places to touch in the world , no NEED to touch this one. If you read some history of the island it might make you want to leave it alone just because of common decency. I love the fact that the horses are still there after hundreds of years! Where else in the world will you ever see that? Take that away and it’s gone forever, then it’s not so special anymore.
I can’t wait to go out to Sable. I’ve heard so much about it, if it’s open to the public I’ll be the first in line.
Sable Island is a special place for the world and Canada. The wild horses should be preserved and protected . There are humans on this planet that just don’t get it. We are priveledged to have this small place on the planet that is perfect. The horses are truely the way we should live and we need to protect this anyway we can, be it a National park. or specific Proctection Law.
Recently in a valley near Kamloops B.C. they stupidly rounded up 20 feral (wild ) horses and sent them to Auction.. Unbelieveable .. just for the sake of keeping the crown land for cattle… These are illfated decisions that we need to stop and protect all wild horses . Wildlife is a treasure. Treat them as they are!!!