Marginal Wharf Construction at Glace Bay Small Craft Harbour, Nova Scotia

The proposed project will involve the replacement of a series of eleven (11) wharf structures with a new marginal wharf structure.  The existing wharves are located on the eastern side of the Glace Bay Small Craft Harbour and are primarily utilized by in-shore lobster fishing vessels.  Nine of the 11 existing wharves were constructed using the style of preference of their private owners without any engineering standards and vary from timber piles, retaining walls and/or timber cribs.  Currently all of the structures are in various states of disrepair and decay and have deteriorated to the point whereby they need to be barricaded.  In order to reconstruct the new marginal wharf, complete demolition and removal of all existing wharf structures is required, including two of the 11 wharves, which are owned by DFO-SCH and that are also at the end of their service lives.  There are also four (4) private wood-frame buildings located on the east side that either need to be demolished and/or relocated in order to make way for the new construction. 

 

The new marginal wharf will measure approximately 174 meters (m) in length and 4.8 m in width.  Construction will be carried out along a similar alignment as the existing wharves in three segments.  The inner end of the wharf will terminate at the launching ramp and a 13 m-long section will be constructed at 90 degrees to the inner segment that will serve as a retaining wall for the launching ramp.  The new marginal wharf will have a steel H-pile foundation, concrete pile caps, and deck system as well as a timber pile and sheathing fendering system.  A tie-back wall system will be installed for lateral support.  The wharf will be constructed to an elevation of 3.00 m above chart datum and the area behind it will be backfilled, compacted and graded to blend into the existing service area.  A new electrical and lighting system will be installed and tied into the existing electrical system at the harbour.

 

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. 

 

The Glace Bay Small Craft Hrabour is the largest core fishing harbour in Eastern Nova Scotia that was developed to serve the fishing community in the area year-round.  The main purpose of the proposed project is to replace dilapidated infrastructure to support the continued viability of the harbour for the commercial fishery and the local economy

More

Latest update

Notice of Determination

 

October 9, 2025:  Fisheries and Oceans Canada – Small Craft Harbours (DFO-SCH) as well as Transport Canada have determined that the construction of a marginal wharf project, located at the Glace Bay 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.

Participate

Key documents

Key documents
Document number Document title File Date
1 Mitigations Measures Marginal Wharf Construction Glace Bay SCH PDF (207 KB) October 9, 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

    • Glace Bay Small Craft Harbour (Nova Scotia)

  • Nature of Activity

    • Ports and Harbours

  • Assessment Status

    Completed

  • Start Date

    2025-08-12

  • Proponent

    Fisheries and Oceans Canada – Small Craft Harbours

  • Authorities

    • Fisheries and Oceans Canada
    • Transport Canada

  • Assessment Type

    Project on federal lands

  • Reference Number

    89786

Nearby assessments

...within 200 kilometres
Report a problem on this page
Date modified: