Funding for land-based farm
A land-based salmon farm and an oyster hatchery have landed substantial investments from the Government of Canada's Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) Business Development Program (BDP).
The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, and Minister Responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), along with the Honourable Scott Brison, President of the Treasury Board and Member of Parliament for Kings-Hants announced investments totalling $2,709,280 to seven companies and organizations representing the ICT, cleantech and fisheries and aquaculture sectors.
Each recipient is involved in the development of innovative practices or products to expand their market share or to develop their early stage technology. The Government of Canada contribution for these projects is provided through ACOA’s Business Development Program (BDP).
Among the recipients is Sustainable Fish Farming Canada, a land-based operation that has designed, built and is currently operating proprietary marine water treatment technology for use in commercial aquaculture.
The company began with warm-water European marine sea bass and sea bream, and has now ventured into Atlantic salmon. The project, a 65-tonne Atlantic salmon grow-out facility in Centre Burlington, NS, received an investment of $500,000.
Nova Scotia is home to some of the most advanced land-based aquaculture techniques in the world. Sustainable Fish Farming’s facility works on a closed-containment system that recycles all saltwater in the salmon tanks, while waste is drawn out and used as fertilizer.
“One of the most effective ways to help Canadian businesses grow, innovate and succeed is to make strategic investments that build on competitive advantages. The businesses and organizations we are investing in today illustrate a commitment to excellence and to innovative practices that help set them apart in the marketplace”, said Minister Bains.
Another recipient of the funding is the Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia (AANS). Over $200,000 was invested to assist the AANS to establish hatchery support for the oyster aquaculture sector to help mitigate the impacts of the MSX parasite on NS oyster populations. Using industry-led research, this project will work towards mitigating the effect of the MSX parasite by developing a breeding program using local oysters and is expected to provide seed stock that is either triploid (sterile) in nature or MSX resistant. AANS is confident this approach will assist in re-establishing the oyster industry in Cape Breton and protecting the industry in other regions of Nova Scotia.
Tom Smith, the Executive Director for the AANS, emphasized that this specific project along with several others of the association's outreach and research projects are widely supported by industry partners, NS aquaculture farmers, ACOA, NS Dept. of Fisheries and Aquaculture, NRC/IRAP, Genome Atlantic, along with University partners, and the Eskasoni Fish and Wildlife Commission.
"The aquaculture industry here in Atlantic Canada is a model for research and innovation, in both the shellfish and finfish sectors, both land based and marine based farming", said Smith.
