April 30, 2007

Canadian salmon farm meets fierce resistance

A proposal for a large-scale salmon farm has earned the ire of local residents in Nova Scotia, a Canadian province which includes fishing as one of its main revenue earners.

A New Brunswick company, Aqua Fish Farms, is proposing a 70-acre, or 28-hectare, salmon farm in the Port Moulton bay to be the largest in Nova Scotia, sparking protests by the local population.

The local residents fear the large-scale salmon operations would pollute the bay and damage the beaches, thus hurting tourism and recreation.

The movement has backing from powerful figures, including the Queens Progressive Conservative Association and assorted high level government officials.

Aquaculture is a growing industry in Nova Scotia, where there are hundreds of aquaculture farms.

The Department of Fisheries was accused of forcing the project on the locals by allowing a mussel farm to be established on the bay six years ago. Residents had initially wanted the farm to be introduced gradually and water to be monitored.

However, their pleas were ignored in the name of development.

Currently, opponents of the farm are monitoring it for long-term effects.