4 Ryther, J.H. 1997. Anadromous brook trout: biology, status and enhancement. Trout 
     
     Unlimited, Arlington Virginia. 
     
    
   
   
    
     5 Personal communication from Scott MacNeill, MSc candidate at the University of New 
     
     Brunswick, whose thesis topic is the effect of sedimentation on PEI trout populations. 
     
    

    
     6 Oyster landings in 1996 were worth $2.95 million (Department of Fisheries and Environment 
     
     data) 
     
    

    
     7 The proportion of current agricultural land within 10 m of a stream is from the 
     
    
   
   
    
     Departments of Agriculture and Forestry and Fisheries and Environment, personal communication, 
     
     January 1998. 
     
    

    
     8 Farm receipts in 1996 were $294 million (Department of Agriculture and 
     
    

    
     Forestry data). 
     
    
   
   
    
     THE STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT IN BRIEF: 
     
    
   
   
    
     The Natural History Society was one of many groups and individuals who 
     
     responded to the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Environment 
     
     hearings on An Act to Amend the Environmental Protection Act and the Issue of 
     
     Watercourse Buffer Zones. As anticipated by many, agricultural opposition, 
     
     particularly from the facets of the cattle industry, was very strong and 
     
     vocal. Environmental groups and concerned citizens also responded strongly. 
     
     Many felt that the proposed buffer conditions were not strong enough and 
     
     represented a dilution of the Round Table recommendations. A strong division 
     
     of opinions resulted between what was being recommended by the 
     
     environmentalist and farming communities. 
     
    

    
     All awaited with anticipation the report from the Standing Committee. 
     
     In late April, 1998, the report was tabled in the Legislature. The 
     
     highlights of these are noted below. The Standing Committee members made a 
     
     radical shift in proposed policy with the tabling of their recommendations. 
     
     For the complete version, contact Island Information Services at 902—368— 
     
     4000. Their recommendations are provided in abbreviated form below, namely 
     
     that: 
     
    

    
     c) The Minister of Fisheries and Environment not proceed with 
     
    

    
     second reading of the Act to Amend the Environmental 
     
     Protection Act. 
     
    
   
   
    
     0 Farmers be encouraged to take Environmental Farm Plan training and 
     
     it be a prior condition to soil & water conservation assistance 
     
     grants. 
     
    

    
     0 Agriculture & Forestry continue to develop an incentive program. 
     
    

    
     0 The watercourse definition in the EPA be changed to any permanent 
     
    
   
   
    
     stream, brook, river, lake, pond, bay, or estuary and any 
     
     intermittent stream, brook, or stream with a definable bed 
     
     sediment bed and continuous defined banks, which maintains 
     
     continuous flow during any 72 hour period between Jul. l-Oct. 31. 
     
    

    
     c) Mandatory watercourse buffer zones be established under the 
     
     Environmental Protection Act, that the amendments come into 
     
     effect no sooner than April 1, 2001, and that necessary 
     
     amendments be based on the following: 
     
    

    
     0 Conditions which would apply to 10 metres buffer zone: no 
     
     fall tillage; forage mowing and harvesting as required with 
     
     renewal by under seeded cereal crop; mowing in non-crop use 
     
     areas; soil disturbance requires permit; encourage planting