-by Tom Gunn McNair’s Cove
Congratulations to Beverly Phillips for the interesting articles on the Leatherback Sea Turtles and the Canso Causeway. I missed seeing the beautiful Orca this month; but when I was paddling my kayak on the Mulgrave side, I did see a very large dorsal fin slowly moving in the water in front of me for quite some time. It was obviously a shark, but I am not sure what type.
There is more interest in having an opening in the Canso Causeway for marine life to move freely through those waters. We already have an opening in place with the Canso Canal. I often wonder why the Canso Canal gates are locked instead of remaining open so marine life can pass through freely.
Is there a reason why the gates are always closed?
Editor’s note: In response to an inquiry by Bev Phillips in her Canso Causeway series, the Canadian Coast Guard stated, “Canso Canal was designed and operates specifically to allow for the safe navigation and movement of vessels. The locks are used to compensate for the difference in the water levels in Chedabucto Bay and the Northumberland Strait. The canal gates cannot be left open concurrently as this would not allow vessels to safely transit the canal and could damage the canal infrastructure.”