Fish farm feeding frenzy

Concerned residents say their beef so to speak isn’t with all aquaculture, it is with the type of site Aqua Fish Farms wants to create and where they want to put it.

During an open house held by Aqua Fish Farms, Nov. 13 co-owner Chris Saulnier said they were there to explain to the pubic what their proposed business activities are for the next couple of years.

There were posters containing information about the current fish farm site next to Carter’s Beach in Port Mouton and information about the new site proposed off Port Mouton Island.

Saulnier says a new site is needed so they can fallow the existing one.

Fallowing would clear the cages of any fish, giving the existing site a break and a chance for the environment around the farm to clean itself up.

Saulnier explained that with fish farming deposition is expected under the cages and that is why they want the new site, so they can leave the existing site to fallow.

He says they want to be leaders in Nova Scotia and develop this technique, which is already being practised in other locations.

Concerned residents of Port Mouton are not convinced this is a justifiable reason for a new fish farm.

Gloria Gilbert of Sable Island thinks it is absolutely a wrong thing for the community of Port Mouton, because the community has a viable economic base with lobster fishing and tourism and she believes industrialization would be in conflict with those two existing enterprises on an environmental, economic and philosophical level.

Region of Queens Council member, Darlene Norman says people were very disappointed that a session for questions and answers was not held. If a person had a question they had to take the initiative to go up and talk to someone with Aqua Fish Farms.

Mike Raynard who manages the current fish farm site in Port Mouton says, he is hoping the company’s application for the proposed site is granted and added, one of the reasons he teamed up with Aqua Fish Farms is because they are one of the responsible farmers.

Saulnier later attended the committee of the whole meeting on Nov. 14 and spoke to council members and public about their business and their goals. The slideshow presentation was followed by an intense question period from council.

Not only did residents of Port Mouton get the opportunity to attend the open house, they also attended the public meeting held on Nov. 15. Marine Biologist, Inka Milewski spoke about the economical and ecological values of fish farming and the negative impacts it can cause on the marine environment.

A public hearing will be held, but a date has not been set.



ldelong@theadvance.ca