Reconstruction of a Wharf and Shore Protection at the Cap-des-Caissie Small Craft Harbour, New Brunswick

The proposed project at the Cap-des-Caissie Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) – Small Craft Harbour (SCH) will consist of the reconstruction of an existing wharf structure (SCH Facility Number (#) 402) as well as reconstruction of the adjacent shore protection (#604). 

 

The existing timber cribwork wharf structure (#402) that forms the southern boundary of the harbour basin is currently at the end of its service life.  The proposed project will involve its complete reconstruction by encapsulating the cribwork with a new king pile wall structure.  The reconstructed wharf will include a 101 m-long stem and an 8.1 m-long perpendicular ell section at the outside end.  The stem section will be 7.5 m wide with the ell being 15.4 m wide.  The lower portion of the cribwork will remain in-situ and a row of steel H piles will be drilled and socketed into the bedrock in the same alignment and offset into the basin by approximately 1.1 m to facilitate construction.  A tie-back wall system will be installed for lateral support and the new wharf will be constructed to an elevation of 3.14 m above chart datum.  Pre-cast concrete panels will be lowered in place between the H piles, the new structure will be infilled and a new cast-in-place deck system installed over the top fill layer.  To accommodate vehicle access and operations, core stone will be imported and placed along the back of the structure to create an 8.3 m-wide travel lane that will be sloped in the seaward direction.  Geotextile and filter and armour stone will be placed over the core stone to provide additional protection on the exposed seaward face.  A new electrical and lighting system will be installed on the wharf and tied into the existing electrical system at the harbour.

 

The adjacent shore protection (#604), located at the inner end of the new wharf, will be fully reconstructed with a rock revetment consistent with the existing shore protection works.  After the removal of existing armour stone, the side slope all along the 175 m-long exposed seaward face of the service area will be shaped to a 1.5:1 (horizonal to vertical) slope.  A geotextile layer will then be placed over the prepared surface to provide filtration and separation.  The outer revetment layers will be constructed using a combination of reused material as well as imported filter and armour stone to ensure long-term durability and protection against shoreline erosion.

 

The work is expected to be conducted using heavy equipment such as loaders, cranes, excavators, and trucks operating from the upland and existing structures.  A portion of the harbour's service area will likely be used as a staging area for equipment storage and as a lay-down area for demolition and construction materials such as treated timber, concrete panels, armour stone and aggregates.

 

Construction activities are anticipated to commence in October 2025 and be completed by the end of March 2027.  Project commencement is, however, subject to DFO-SCH operational priorities and funding, as well as the completion of regulatory approval processes, therefore work may be delayed.  The scope of the environmental effects determination (subject to S.82 of the Impact Assessment Act) will, therefore, be based on the works being completed over a period of 18 months commencing within a period of 5 years following the determination of significance of environmental effects. 

 

The Cap-des-Caissie SCH is a core fishing harbour that was developed to serve the fishing industry in the area.  Wharf #402 is a critical part of the harbour's infrastructure, forming the southern boundary of the basin and providing essential protection.  The purposes of the proposed project are to upgrade existing infrastructure to support the continued viability of the harbour for the commercial fishery as well as other commercial and recreational sectors.  As the existing and proposed structures are essential to the sustainability of the harbour, the only alternative to the project would be for it not to be completed and eventually abandon the harbour completely.  Since this is not a viable option, DFO-SCH considered design alternatives and selected the option of encapsulating the existing wharf and expanding and reinforcing the seaward face with armour stone as the most technical and economically feasible construction approach.

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Latest update

Notice of Determination

October 6, 2025 – The Small Craft Harbours and Fish and Fish Habitat Protection programs of Fisheries and Oceans Canada as well as Transport Canada have determined that the reconstruction of a wharf and shore protection project, located at the Cap-des-Caissie Small Craft Harbour in New Brunswick, is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects on areas within federal jurisdiction and can, therefore, proceed.  Environmental effects on areas within provincial jurisdiction will be addressed through applicable provincial legislation and processes.

 

This determination was based on a consideration of the following:

 

  • Potential impacts on rights and interests of Indigenous peoples;
  • Any shared community and Indigenous knowledge;
  • Comments received from the public;
  • Potential impacts to the following environmental components:
    • Air Quality
    • Aquatic Species and Habitat (including Fish and Fish Habitat)
    • Avian Species and Habitat
    • Health, Social, and Economic Conditions
    • Marine Sediments
    • Navigation
    • Sensory Disturbance (air/water, noise, and vibration)
    • Structures, Sites, or Things of Historical, Archaeological, Paleontological, or Architectural Significance
    • Terrestrial Species and Habitat
    • Terrestrial Soils
    • Water (marine, ground, surface, drainage, water levels, flow, etc.); and
  • Application of technically and economically feasible mitigation measures (including but not limited to those listed in the attached document).

 

With this determination, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Transport Canada may exercise any power, perform any duty or function, or provide financial assistance to enable the project to be carried out in whole or in part.

Participate

Contacts

Planning and Environment Group
Fisheries and Oceans Canada - Small Craft Harbours, Maritimes and Gulf Regions
343 University Avenue
Gulf Fisheries Centre
Moncton, New Brunswick E1C 5K4
Email: DFO.SCHMGEnvironment-MGEnvironnementPPB.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca


Disclaimer

This map is for illustrative purposes. The markers represent the approximate locations based on available data. More than one marker may be identified for a given assessment.

  • Location

    • Cap-des-Caissie DFO-SCH (New Brunswick)

  • Nature of Activity

    • Ports and Harbours

  • Assessment Status

    Completed

  • Start Date

    2025-05-30

  • Proponent

    Fisheries and Oceans Canada – Small Craft Harbours

  • Authorities

    • Fisheries and Oceans Canada
    • Transport Canada

  • Assessment Type

    Project on federal lands

  • Reference Number

    89714

Nearby assessments

...within 200 kilometres
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