Sensible opinions favour aquaculture
Opinion
In most cases of criticism aimed at the fish farming industry that is focused on the suggested mandatory transition of conventional, ocean-based salmon farms to some form of land-based, “closed containment” fish rearing system, the authors of such criticism are easily identified as individuals more caught up in a media campaign by environmental groups than knowledgeable people expressing an honest opinion. The idea of growing marine fish in a high density environment on land is interesting, and when done right it might produce fish of acceptable quality, but seldom will it match the more natural conditions of a floating net-pen, where the fish are exposed to the natural flows and ebbs of the ocean. Most salmon farms, for example, contain less than five fish in each tonne of sea water inside a net pen.
A number of recent critical articles about the Canadian East Coast salmon farming industry prompted the following submissions to the Chronicle Herald;
1. As some of our best and brightest head out west to find jobs, I am very happy to see investment right here in our province. Welcome to Nova Scotia, Cooke Aquaculture! Make yourself at home, create jobs, invest in our people, our infrastructure and all that Nova Scotia has to offer. By helping businesses like Cooke establish operations in Nova Scotia, we help them create much-needed jobs in the local economy and also support various sectors and local businesses. Since establishing operations in Nova Scotia, Cooke has hired local people, bought food, lodging, supplies, services, fuel, repair work, and the list goes on and on.
During the last few years, it has not been easy to operate a tourism business in southwestern Nova Scotia. The ferry is gone, and so too are the many businesses and people. As a small business operator, I can attest that even in the short period of time that Cooke has been in the area, they have made a significant difference for my business, my community and others as well.
2. Belleoram is a small town on the south coast of Newfoundland, in the Coast of Bays Region, population 409. Before 2006, our town residents and families were leaving home in numbers, people were going out to Alberta, to New Brunwick, to Prince Edward Island, looking for work. Traditional fishery was at a low point; to add to that disaster, three of our fishermen lost their lives. We wondered what more could happen. But then a change happened in Belleoram and the Coast of Bays region: Aquaculture (salmon farming) came to our shores. People started working again; you could see smiles on their faces.
At first, fishermen had other thoughts, but as the aquaculture industry grew and people worked with the fishers, lobster fishermen saw bigger catches near the salmon cages. With only one wharf, a fishermen’s wharf, congestion was a problem, but through the help of DFO Small Craft Harbours, we were able to add a new wharf for aquaculture, four floating docks, a boat launch, and more. Also with the help of the aquaculture industry, our children have a playground, and they are using it to the fullest each day. Other organizations have seen the benefits. An example is St. Lawrence Anglican Church, restored over the past six years through fundraising in the amount of $200,000(~€ 156,500).
Today over 50 people from Belleoram work with Cooke Aquaculture and Northern Harvest. The town council of Belleoram has seen benefits as well, with more paying taxes. We were on a drinking water boil order for 18 years and couldn’t afford to get the problem fixed. But as of this year, we were able to remove the boil order with the help from the province on a 90-10 per cent cost-sharing agreement. Without the aquaculture industry, our town could not have afforded our 10 per cent share. So I congratulate the communities in Nova Scotia that will see aquaculture grow. Like Belleoram, you will see the benefits in the short and long run.
