Cooke Aquaculture has big expansion plans
While the federal and provincial governments have been relatively slow to provide financial support for the aquaculture industry in British Columbia- likely due to criticism by environmental groups and the accompanying concern about political costs - the story has for some time been the opposite on Canada’s East Coast, where dollars have been flowing to fish farming companies in an attempt to create new jobs. But the playing field is leveling, as the salmon farmers in Nova Scotia are coming under increased scrutiny by environmental groups and commercial fishermen- mostly lobster catchers, despite increased catches in New Brunswick, where salmon farming has been practiced for a much longer time.
An article in the Herald News by reporters David Jackson and Brian Medel describes the anticipated announcement that the Nova Scotia government will provide a substantial level of support for Cooke Aquaculture’s expansion plans in the province;
The province is set to announce Thursday that it will pour millions into the expansion of a New Brunswick-based aquaculture company’s Nova Scotia operations. Cooke Aquaculture has been planning $150 million (~€ 116 million) in projects in the province, including a processing facility in Shelburne County, expanding a feed mill in Truro and developing a hatchery in Digby. The company has said in the past that its five-year plan in the province could add 400 direct jobs and 1,400 indirect ones. It had hoped to secure $20 million to $30 million (~€ 15.5 – 23.2 million) in government funding.
No federal contribution is expected to be announced Thursday. An announcement is scheduled in Shelburne County, where the provincial cabinet is meeting. Wednesday evening, a plainclothes police officer ensured Premier Darrell Dexter and Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Sterling Belliveau made it safely into a reception near the Shelburne marina as placard-waving protesters hollered outside about sick salmon, ruined shorelines and the government’s anticipated announcement of a big funding boost for Cooke. “We’ll have to wait and see,” said a tight-lipped Belliveau as he was greeted by dozens of protesters who wanted to know more. “I’ll wait for the appropriate time to give the details of that announcement,” Belliveau said as protesters asked him “Where are the sick ones?” in reference to another suspected outbreak of infectious salmon anemia along the South Shore. “We are following the proper procedure and the protocol that we have to follow,” said Belliveau, changing the topic quickly.He said the government’s recently released aquaculture strategy will result in a bright future for Nova Scotia.
Dexter wouldn’t discuss the number of jobs that could be created or how many millions of dollars his government will contribute. “There’s an announcement ... which will set out what the parameters are,” he said. “We’ll make the announcement when the announcement should be made.” He said it will be good news for “rural communities in various parts of the province.” “We think we’re taking a big step forward for aquaculture in the province, but I want to make it really clear that for us this is about having a well-managed, environmentally sustainable industry, and we ... want to see the innovation side of this take root as well,” Dexter said about a growing interest in developing onshore aquaculture as well.
Critics also objected to the giving of “big amounts of money to an already profitable company”.
Cooke was in the news this week for the suspected outbreak of infectious salmon anemia at one of its six operating farms in the province (- this one with only two net pens). The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is investigating, said the Herald News article.
