INTERNATIONAL COUNTRYSIDE STEWARDSHIP EXCHANGE
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE 1991 NORTHEAST EXCHANGE

Introduction

St. Peter’s Bay is located on the northern coast of Prince Edward Island. The study area consists of dispersed settlements around the central geographic feature of the Bay. The Bay is protected from the Gulf of St. Lawrence by the Greenwich Dunes, part of a barrier beach complex ringing the crescent face of the island province.

Observations

Despite its many human and natural resources, St. Peter’s has lagged behind development in other areas of Prince Edward Island. With high unemployment rates and many seasonal jobs, increasing numbers of young people leave the area to seek employment.

Agriculture depends on a single crop (potatoes) in terms of production for export. Soil erosion by both wind and water is a major problem, with the response of the farming community appearing rather inconsistent.

Marine fisheries are largely limited to lobster. The last decade has seen the swift development of extensive mussel culture operations, and these now fill the most suitable areas of the Bay. Recreational salmon fishing has grown considerably in the Morell River due to introductions of new stock and local management initiatives.

Tourism is limited in St. Peter’s due to lack of accommodations, activities to attract visitors, and management and marketing skills.

Land is a finite resource, and the compounded effects of incremental decisions are causing irretrievable loss of Prince Edward Island’s precious landscape heritage.

Key Issues

• Development of a healthy, localized economy.
• Enhance and protect aquatic resources.

Recommendations

To preserve the community’s assets while enhancing its income, the team proposed a development concept plan. The plan has three focal points: The Village Center – Gateway to the Watershed; Morell area – Rivers, Bays and Fisheries; and, the Greenwich Dunes – Fragile and Dynamic Ecosystem.

These three focal points are all linked by a system of trails dominated by a rails-to-trails redevelopment of the abandoned Canadian National Lines.

The aesthetic and social value of the St. Peter’s Bay countryside is dependent on the vitality of its agriculture. While potatoes probably will continue to dominate the industry, other formerly traditional cultivars plus improved soil management should be encouraged. The team also recommends a farm beautification scheme, a farm woodlands and shelter belts scheme and an agricultural stewardship scheme.

Protecting water quality is critical to the growing aquaculture industry and to recreational fishing. Replacing the causeway at the mouth of St. Peter’s River will improve the quality of the water. Additional research and monitoring of the fisheries of the watershed should be undertaken. A recreational strategy should be developed to realize the recreational potential in and around the Bay.

A local land use plan should be developed and implemented. With support and guidelines from the province, local authorities could provide the opportunity to increase tourism income by creating attractions based on existing local strengths. There is great potential for increased revenues from visitors to the area. A tourism plan for the area should pursue sustainable tourism, which depends on maintaining an attractive landscape.

Any strategy for the future must identify ways of bringing young people into the permanent labor market. Formation of a local youth council would provide support to area young people. The labor force must have training to both meet the demands of the labor market and generate additional employment opportunities. The team proposes that an Outreach Vocational Training Center be based in St. Peter’s in a partnership between the local community and Holland College in Charlottetown.

It is recommended that a Partnership Agreement be forged and a lead agency identified to implement the recommendations of the report. Successful implementation of the recommendations will require a working partnership of all local, provincial and federal interests. Usually a new organization is created to act as lead agency, however, the Development Corporation is well established and has a proven track record in project management.

The Development Corporation’s role could be two-fold: 1) a focal point for obtaining information and advice on the whole range of support for business development, training and employment; and 2) a catalyst for action, providing a forum for bringing together expertise from within and outside St. Peter’s, and for generating ideas and actions among individuals and organizations in St. Peter’s.

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©2002 Glynwood Center