SYDNEY, N.S. - Residents and fishermen in Cape Breton say they're worried about a coal company's plans to barge coal off the Donkin peninsula.
People in Main-a-Dieu say they fear the coal barge could destroy a rich fishing area and pollute a popular beach.
Josephine Kennedy, a spokeswoman for a local fishermen's group, says people know little about a plan by Australia-based Xstrata to transport coal 25 metres off Cape Morien and onto large vessels.
Xstrata officials announced at a community meeting in February that it no longer saw the transportation of coal by rail to Sydney harbour as its most viable option.
The Donkin coal project is a joint venture between Xstrata and Erdene Resource Development Corp.
Mira Bay fisherman Donnie Messenger says they've fought to put practices in place to protect the fishery and those are being jeopardized.
