Two Aquaculture Farm Sites Approved for Guysborough County

AGRICULTURE/FISHERIES--Two Aquaculture Farm Sites Approved for Guysborough County

Nova Scotia's $50 million aquaculture industry continues to grow with the approval of two blue mussel leases in the northwest branch of Whitehead Harbour, Ernest Fage, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries announced today.

"These sites met all the requirements of the environmental and scientific analysis, public consultation, and government review," said Mr. Fage.

Foggy Farms, an affiliate of Atlantic Aqua Farms Inc., is owned and operated by brothers Robert and Brian Fortune, who are considered to be leaders in the PEI blue mussel aquaculture industry. The Fortunes have been operating aquaculture sites in the Whitehead area since 1997 and employ about 12 people. The product is processed locally and shipped directly to markets in Canada and the United States.

Technical and scientific staff at the provincial and federal government levels reviewed an environmental assessment of the requested sites. Results indicate that these farms will not create an environmental risk.

"We expect that over the next couple of years as these sites reach full production, the Foggy Farms staff compliment will double and production will be increased by over one million pounds of marketable product," said Mr. Fage. "I have every confidence that this operation will contribute to the local economy and the integrity of Nova Scotia's aquaculture industry."