No additional land to be allocated for wild blueberries on former Tracadie range

December 5, 2024

TRACADIE  – The provincial government has announced that no additional land will be allocated for wild blueberries on the former Tracadie range.

About six per cent of the property is currently committed for wild blueberry development.

“We recognize the importance of the wild blueberry industry and its economic benefit to the Acadian Peninsula and the province of New Brunswick,” said Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries Minister Pat Finnigan. “I also recognize the hard work and passion of New Brunswickers who work in this industry. However, we have been listening to the concerns of the local community and acknowledge the need to balance further development on the Tracadie range with social acceptance. As a result, there will be no new wild blueberry development on the range beyond our current legal obligations to the current leaseholders and First Nations.”

A request for proposals issued in 2021 that would have awarded about 830 hectares of land for new or enhanced blueberry processing, or for value-added activities, has been cancelled.

The property consists of more than 18,000 hectares of land and waterways near the regional municipality of Tracadie. It was used by the Department of National Defence for training and weapons practice from 1939 to 1994. In 1997 it was transferred to the provincial government, which is responsible for any land development plans.

05-12-24
Media Contact(s)

Nick Brown, communications, Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries. nick.brown@gnb.ca.

NT4