Barbecued Seafood a Hit at Festivals

Seafood lovers from Nova Scotia and around the world have been treated to the great taste of farmed fish this month at select festivals around the province.

Staff from the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture barbecued and served Atlantic salmon and steelhead trout to visitors at Digby Scallop Days and the Louisbourg CrabFest. Both area residents and tourists were surprised to find out that the fish were grown here in the province.

Salmon from Victoria Sea Farms Ltd. of Digby County was served at the Scallop Days festival Aug. 8-9. More than 300 people, including visitors from such states as Louisiana, Missouri, New York and Massachusetts, lined up to sample the savoury delights.

"It's amazing how popular farmed products are becoming," said Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Keith Colwell. "The response from people at these events is an encouraging one for aquaculturalists around the province."

The event in Digby occurred a week after the Louisbourg CrabFest, which was held on the August long weekend. About 600 locals and tourists from the United States and Germany were treated to barbecued steelhead trout from Bras d'Or Arctic Char Ltd. of St. Peters.

Sharon Pettipas, aquaculture marketing consultant with the department who helped serve up the fish, said people at both events were pleased with the quality of aquaculture products and how easy it was to prepare them.

"For a lot of people, this was their first taste of farmed fish," she said. "Many said it won't be their last. Now they'll look for Nova Scotian products in their stores."

The next event is on Sunday, Aug. 23, when barbecued steelhead can be sampled at the Linger-by-the-Sea festival in Neils Harbour, Cape Breton.

NOTE: The following in intended for use by broadcast media.

Seafood lovers were pleasantly surprised by the

quality of farmed fish at two events held recently

in Nova Scotia.

Hundreds of local residents and tourists at the Digby

Scallop Days and the Louisbourg CrabFest sampled

Atlantic salmon and steelhead trout.

The fish was barbecued by staff from the Department

of Fisheries and Aquaculture, and those who sampled

the fare were delighted by the taste.

They were also pleased to hear it was grown right

here in Nova Scotia and it could be prepared in just a

few minutes on the barbecue.

The next event is on Sunday, August 23rd, when

barbecued steelhead can be sampled at the

Linger-by-the-Sea festival in Neils Harbour

on Cape Breton Island.