March 26, 2021
 

Cooke subsidiary permitted to set up salmon hatchery in Nova Scotia, Canada

Cooke Aquaculture subsidiary Kelly Cove Salmon Ltd. has received approval from the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture (NSDFA) in Nova Scotia, Canada, for a new land-based salmon hatchery, Cooke Aquaculture announced this month.

The new hatchery — which will be a "world-class recirculating aquaculture system" and was proposed in January — is planned to be located near Centreville on Digby Neck in Nova Scotia, Cooke said. The project represents a C$56.8 million (US$45.5 million) investment into aquaculture operations in the region.

Once construction of the hatchery starts, it is expected to take three years to complete, Cooke said.

"We anticipate that it may take another year to secure all the required permitting and complete the engineering design," Cooke Aquaculture vice president of public relations Joel Richardson said. "We are aiming to start construction in 2022 pending pandemic market conditions and permitting approvals."

According to Richardson, Cooke has been "sustainably operating Atlantic salmon farms for over 23 years in Nova Scotia for food production."

"...our aim is to grow responsibly by taking a coordinated, thoughtful, science-based approach and going through all the appropriate licensing and permitting steps," Richardson added. "We were pleased to see so many of the businesses, organisations and local governments who we have worked with over the years express support of our growth in Nova Scotia."

According to the company, Cooke Aquaculture is "currently halfway through" its investment plans for the region, of which the new facility is a part. The company plans to invest C$112 million (US$89 million) in Nova Scotia, in addition to investments it has already made.

Cooke Aquaculture asserted last year that it planned to expand its operations in Nova Scotia, and received lease renewals for its Kelly Cove Salmon operations in Liverpool Bay in spring.

- SeafoodSource