The Saugeen Ojibway Nation has released results of a study that show pollution in the Owen Sound harbour is toxic to fish and potentially a threat to human health.
The study was done in partnership with Trent University. It follows up on a study that shows high levels of pollutants in the harbour.
So the Ojibway wanted to know how that was affecting the fish. The latest study shows toxins in the harbour exceed federal guidelines and are adversely affecting the fish.
Saugeen Resources Manager Doran Ritchie said the damage to the fish should be of concern to all, especially the federal government which owns the harbour.
"This is why we're reaching out to Transport Canada to say, look, there are some very serious issues that you're trying to forego or pass off or just divest. We are saying there are a lot of other serious issues here not just related to aquatic health, not just to fish health but potentially to human health," said Ritchie.
The federal government has long been trying to transfer ownership of the harbour.
The Saugeen Ojibway want a seat at the table wherever those negotiations are headed.
Michael Johnston, manager of the Saugeen Environmental office, said before any transfer, the harbour needs to be cleaned up.
The question is, who's liable and who's going to pay especially considering Owen Sound Bay is part of the Ojibway traditional fishing grounds.
"We don't think the cost of that should be unfairly borne by any one particular demographic and particularly not those people who were not responsible for the pollution in the first place," said Johnston.
He added dredging the harbour would make the situation much worse.
The Owen Sound Harbour. (Blackburnnews.com stock photo by Kirk Scott)