Nova Scotia To Host Atlantic Fisheries Ministers

Fisheries ministers from New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island will be in Halifax on Monday, May 30, for a meeting hosted by Nova Scotia Fisheries Minister Chris d'Entremont. Discussion will focus on the current challenges facing the aquaculture industry in the region.

The salmon farming industry is a major contributor to the economy in Atlantic Canada. It generates close to $300 million in annual sales and provides employment for more than 4,000 people throughout Atlantic Canada. However, the industry has faced a number of significant challenges in recent years. These challenges mirror those faced by the agriculture industry including extreme weather events, disease, and confusing information regarding food safety issues.

"The salmon farming industry is an important employer in rural Atlantic Canadian communities, with jobs extending beyond the farm and hatchery operations to the supply and service sectors," said Mr. d'Entremont. "This includes cage, net and boat manufacturing, processing and feed plants, transportation companies, divers, accountants, veterinarians, and the research community."

A task force was established by the New Brunswick Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture and Fisheries and Oceans Canada to ensure the long-term success of the salmon farming industry in Atlantic Canada. The provinces of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador, in addition to the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada and the New Brunswick Salmon Growers Association, also participated.

In an interim report submitted in early April, the task force focused on short-term recommendations to address the urgent need for financial intervention to safeguard the industry's immediate survival. The final report of the task force, submitted at the end of April, reiterated the immediate needs and provided recommendations to address some of the longer-term challenges facing the industry. These recommendations will serve as a road map for federal and provincial governments and industry in the coming months.

"Initially, both the federal and provincial governments committed to reviewing the report on an urgent basis so that actions could be taken to address the industry's immediate needs," said Mr. d'Entremont. "The report was submitted several weeks ago and we are waiting for the federal government to respond to this common threat to an important regional industry."

Representatives from Quebec and Nunavut will also attend the meeting. In addition to the aquaculture issues, ministers are expected to discuss fisheries matters related to their jurisdictions. Federal Fisheries Minister Geoff Regan was invited however he is unable to participate.