Millbrook First Nation joins forces with Icy Waters

Tor-Eddie Fossbakk The aquaculture industry in Atlantic Canada is in a state of transition. While demand for fish and fish products continues to increase in North America, supply is now global. The economics of fish culture have changed so that in order to remain viable, larger critical size is required. A new model is essential if the smaller scale farmer is to survive. Millbrook has worked successfully with the Atlantic Provinces Opportunities Agency (ACOA) to develop markets for Arctic Char. This work will continue in the future as well. The partnership will provide additional production capacity allowing the two groups to grow the marketplace in Eastern North America. It provides great flexibility for both production units in ensuring that they can manage demand and growth in a sustainable way. "This allows us to bookend the continent" says Mr. Rose. Global production of Arctic char is estimated at 4,000 metric tons a year as compared to a million metric tons of Atlantic salmon. Iceland currently supplies about two thirds of the world's char. Millbrook First Nation invested CAD 3.3 million in a land-based, grow-out facility on Millbrook's Power Centre outside Truro, Nova Scotia, in 2003. The production capacity is 125 metric tons a year. Fish eggs are purchased from Icy Waters, hatched and reared to 100 grams fry in a Truro hatchery before moving into Millbrook's grow-out facility. The hatchery, together with grow-out facility and processing operations employ about twenty-five people year round, most from the Millbrook Band.