Cooke gets federal OK for fish farms in Shelburne County
Transport Canada has given a green light to Cooke Aquaculture to move forward with a proposal to open two new fish farming sites in Jordan Bay in Shelburne County.
In a decision dated Tuesday, Transport Canada says that — taking into account that appropriate measures are available to safeguard wildlife and marine habitat — “the project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.”
The project includes two separate fin fish sites at the opening to Jordan Bay. They are similar in size, each a proposed 500 by 800 metres, taking up 40 hectares, say Transport Canada documents.
The sites, which will each have 30 cages, are to be situated 2.1 kilometres apart.
According to Transport Canada, 24 of the 30 cages at each site will be stocked during the first growing cycle. The sites are likely to enter full use in the second production cycle.
The plan is to stock each site with 550,000 to 700,000 fish, to be based on site performance.
The project must yet be approved by the Nova Scotia government.
Basing its approval on an environmental assessment of the proposed area, the federal government noted that 290 public comments from 93 individuals and seven groups were made about the project since March 2011.
Transport Canada reviewed each submission and provided responses where it could, it said in a detailed summary.
Questions about noise coming from the fish farm were asked.
In order to evaluate any changes in noise levels, Transport Canada said baseline noise monitoring should be undertaken prior to construction and operation of the farms, but it was not made clear if the operator had to do this.
Someone had a concern about methane gas that will bubble up to the surface from the fish fecal waste accumulating beneath the cages.
There is currently no federal expertise to provide advice on odour and health effects, said Transport Canada.
Some wanted to know what impact excess fish feed and waste, chemicals, sea lice and viruses would have on lobster and lobster larvae.
Transport Canada said it asked Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to help answer that one.
DFO determined that the sites are not likely to significantly hurt fish or fish habitat at this time, provided that the sites are operated appropriately.
A question was asked about food dyes used in salmon feed.
Farmed fish are fed supplements, which include two pigments to give them nutrition as well as colour. They have been approved for use in Canada for 15 years, said the government.
Someone else wanted to know how the environment might be affected by garbage or shoreline litter.
The aquaculture company is not allowed to be messy or leave garbage lying around, said Transport Canada.
The project must now receive provincial approval from Sterling Belliveau, the minister of fisheries and aquaculture.
In Nova Scotia, aquaculture leases or licenses are issued under the Aquaculture License and Lease Regulations of the Fisheries and Coastal Resources Act.
“We have not received advice from Transport Canada on their review,” said Pam Davidson, a spokeswoman with the provincial fisheries department.
She said it could take a few weeks.
“Once we receive Transport Canada advice, we will prepare our recommendations to the minister based on information received to date,” she said in an email Wednesday.
Sindy Horncastle from the citizens’ group Mayday Shelburne County, said the project will be placed in a sensitive ecosystem.
“This is a decision we were expecting,” Horncastle said Wednesday.
“We’re extremely disappointed ... because there’s so much science that shows its not a good idea.
“We’re probably going to try to have a community meeting. We’re just really disappointed.”
A source at Cooke Aquaculture headquarters in New Brunswick did not return a call placed Wednesday.
Last month, the Nova Scotia government announced that it was lending $25 million to Cooke to expand its operations in Shelburne, Digby and Truro. Of that amount, $9 million will be forgiven through the Nova Scotia Jobs Fund.
This spring, Cooke had to kill hundreds of thousands of salmon because of an outbreak of infectious salmon anemia in pens outside Shelburne Harbour.
The Science has been tested
Submitted by Halifaxtrapper on July 5, 2012 - 7:19am.
In spite of what other comments will likely say, Shelburne County overwhelmingly supports aquaculture and projects like these. Aquaculture has existed in the area for over 20 years, and as such, people are confident that the Federal and provincial governments do a very thorough review to ensure the environment and the fishery are protected.
Even Silver Donald Cameron has stated that people in Shelburne support Aquaculture.
I'm sure people in the area are keeping their fingers crossed that the province agrees with the federal recommendation.
The fix has been in from the
Submitted by Green Highlander on July 5, 2012 - 8:30am.
The fix has been in from the beginning. These crap factories will ruin our waterways and decimate wild salmon runs. Dexter protested against them while in opposition, but now has been somehow 'persuaded' to go full steam ahead, despite massive opposition from every corner of the province. Could 'campaign contributions' or the promise of a future seat on Cooke's board have something to do with it? And for good measure, Dexter is giving Cooke 25 million of OUR tax dollars! The same man, Glen Cooke, and company, Cooke Aquaculture, have been criminally charged with poisoning New Brunswick waters. While they await their court dates, they get to count the 25 million! Disgusting!
What if the province doesn't grant approval?
Submitted by hav2b on July 5, 2012 - 8:51am.
Can we get our $25,000,000 back?
Short Sighted
Submitted by fargotol on July 5, 2012 - 9:54am.
Nova Scotia is missing a priceless opportunity to become a world leader in sustainable aquaculture.
Why are we building more antiquated open pen fish farms which pollute the marine environment and harm wild fish instead of pioneering clean, responsible, and safe closed containment options?
This makes no sense, is a waste of money, and insults every Nova Scotian who's coastline is being soiled so a few companies can make a quick buck.
I encourage you to only buy farmed fish that has been raised in a sustainable closed containment facility. Ask when you buy. Our government isn't going to protect NS. It's up to consumers to vote with their money.
Some business partner
Submitted by just someone on July 5, 2012 - 10:04am.
These open pen salmon farms are not proven to be good for the environment. Actually there is a lot of evidence that they hurt the environment.
There is a salmon farming company that grows salmon in a closed tank. There is no impact on the environment with the closed tank system. These closed tank salmon farms are the future, but the future is here now. We can only hope that Nova Scotia catches on to a closed tank salmon farm.
There are a lot of people who do not want a salmon poopy harbor. Closed tank salmon farms is what the people want.
Here we go again!!!
Submitted by Bridgewater on July 5, 2012 - 10:05am.
It is now officially easier to get $25 million from Dexter than it is to get a $100,000 mortgage from a bank.
smelly fish
Submitted by getitrightsam on July 5, 2012 - 10:41am.
This is a new one on me
Since when did the dept of transport become aquaculture experts
Who is their aquaculture scientist
When did these people learn about cage placement
Not to be messy and no garbage laying around (now they are garbage experts)where is this in the law ,just making it up as we go along
Did the dept of transport take over aquaculture
oh my we cant get the roads fixed and now we are going to tell the population how to raise feedlot salmon
I did not hear the dept of transport speak out over the potential drug,oil,and feed pollution .Why has cooke not been charged under the eviromental law for pollution ,and or for not reporting in a timely manner .If you have a oil spill on the highway this is to be reported right away
oh
must be seperate law for cooke
special people special laws
have a nice day
UNREAL!
Submitted by cybernetic on July 5, 2012 - 11:11am.
Absolutely unreal! How is it the government can get away with this kind of environmental destruction when you or I would go to jail for it? Oh yeah... I forgot... it's a few minimum wage jobs that justify it all... WHAT A CROCK!