Reconstruction of Pointe-aux-Loups fishing harbour

The Pointe-aux-Loups port in the Magdalen Islands is a fishing harbour that serves a permanent local fleet of eight vessels along with a few transient vessels. It is considered a port of refuge because of its location: inshore fishing vessels caught in a storm on the north shore of the Magdalen Islands can seek refuge there.

However, for some years the harbour had been unable to provide adequate protection to the vessels docking there. The wharf had exceeded its useful life and had deteriorated considerably. Moreover, because of insufficient protection, agitation in the harbour was such that most of the time fishermen had to haul their vessels up the slipway, which was very physically demanding. Even though some consolidation work had been done in the early 2000s, only full reconstruction could allow operations to continue.

Following consultations with the local harbour authority, Fisheries and Oceans Canada proposed a wharf reconstruction project and an improved breakwater design to reduce agitation in the basin and provide users with safe, fully functional facilities.

The project was carried out between May 2013 and April 2014 so that the wharf would be operational before the start of the 2014 lobster fishing season. The Pointe-aux-Loups harbour can now accommodate 10 vessels and protect them from agitation. The new design has indeed proven very effective, as not a single user had to use the slipway during the entire lobster fishing season. The harbour authority and the Department are proud of this accomplishment.

Jean-Claude Gaudet
Small Craft Harbours