Harbour Improvements at the Grand Etang Small Craft Harbour, Nova Scotia

The proposed project will involve harbour improvements at the Grand Etang Small Craft Harbour including the replacement of an existing wharf and floating wharf with a new finger pier wharf and marginal wharf structure.  The associated project components also include dredging of a portion of the harbour basin and construction of new shore protection.

The existing wharf is a timber pilework pier structure that will be removed in its entirety.  The structure is beyond the end of its design life and has deteriorated to the point whereby it is load restricted and will be ultimately barricaded. Also included will be the removal of an adjacent floating wharf and a small wood frame building adjacent to the new wharf construction. 

The new construction will include a new finger pier wharf and marginal wharf.  Construction will be carried out along the same alignment as the existing wharf, but will be offset to the north by approximately 25 meters (m) in order to expand the basin area to accommodate larger conventional fishing vessels. The new marginal wharf will be constructed perpendicular to the new finger pier wharf and will have an approximate length of 43 m. Both wharves will be of similar construction with steel pipe pile foundations, concrete pile caps and decks as well as timber pile and sheathing fendering systems.  The new wharves will be constructed to an elevation of 3.65 m above chart datum and the marginal wharf will ramp down to transition to the elevation of the adjacent public access road. 

Dredging will be required in several areas of the harbour to widen and remove some shoal areas within the basin in order to provide safer navigational access and maneuverability within the harbour. The dredge volume is estimated at 3,500 cubic meters place measure (cmpm) and the design dredge grade is 2.3 m below chart datum. All material will be excavated, loaded and transported off site for land-based disposal at an approved dredge material management site.

The project will also involve the construction of shore protection works at the end of the marginal wharf that will tie into the existing shore protection revetment on Harbour Authority property. A new 25 m-long rock revetment with 2:1 side slopes (horizontal to vertical) will be constructed using a combination of salvaged and imported filter and armour stone.

The work will be conducted using heavy equipment such as excavators, cranes, front-end loaders, and trucks working from existing structures and/or temporary work platforms. If temporary stockpiling of material is required, the stockpile area will be located at the Small Craft Harbour and coordinated with the Harbour Authority to avoid disruption of fishing activities.

Construction activities are anticipated to commence in fall 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 impact assessment (subject to the Impact Assessment Act) will, therefore, be based on the works being completed over a period of 12 months commencing within a period of 5 years following finalization of the assessment.

Grand Etang SCH is currently a core fishing harbour that was strategically developed to serve the fishing industry in the area. The harbour currently has considerable marine infrastructure and remains well situated and protected to support both local and transient fisheries. The main purpose of the proposed project is to replace existing infrastructure to support the continued viability of the harbour for the commercial fishery and other commercial and recreational sectors.

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Latest update

Notice of Determination

 

April 27, 2026:  Fisheries and Oceans Canada – Small Craft Harbours (DFO-SCH) as well as Transport Canada have determined that the harbour improvements project, located at the Grand Etang Small Craft Harbour in Nova Scotia, 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
    • Avian Species and Habitat
    • Health, Social, and Economic Conditions
    • Land and Resource Use for Traditional Purposes
    • Marine Sediments
    • Navigation
    • Physical and Cultural Heritage
    • 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.)
    • Wetlands; 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.

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Key documents

Key documents
Document number Document title File Date
4 MITIGATION MEASURES PDF (226 KB) April 27, 2026
3 Notice of Determination - April 27, 2026
2 End of Public Comment Period - August 28, 2025
1 Notice of Intent to Make a Determination – Start of Public Comment Period - July 28, 2025

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

    • Grand Etang Small Craft Harbour (Nova Scotia)

  • Nature of Activity

    • Ports and Harbours

  • Assessment Status

    Completed

  • Start Date

    2025-07-28

  • Proponent

    Fisheries and Oceans Canada – Small Craft Harbours

  • Authorities

    • Fisheries and Oceans Canada
    • Transport Canada

  • Assessment Type

    Project on federal lands

  • Reference Number

    89764

Nearby assessments

...within 200 kilometres
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