Celebration of Aquaculture Coming to Sheet Harbour

The Aquaculture Harvest Festival, featuring seafood, aquaculture operators, and activities for all ages is coming to Sheet Harbour on Saturday, Sept. 26.

"Aquaculture has become a major industry in Nova Scotia, one that supports our rural coastal communities," said Sterling Belliveau, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. "We invite the people of Sheet Harbour and surrounding area to learn, sample and enjoy this celebration of aquaculture in Nova Scotia."

For the past 12 years, the festival has been hosted in a different coastal community. This year's festival is 1 p.m to 4 p.m. at the United Church Hall/Eureka Lodge Parking Lot, 41 Sprott Lane, Sheet Harbour.

The festival features live local entertainment, face painting, and the aquaculture touch tank with oysters, mussels, starfish, crabs and more. People attending will have an opportunity to speak with local aquaculture growers, sample local products such as salmon, mussels and oysters, and see chef demonstrations. Admission and food samples are free.

Mr. Belliveau will present a $1,000 bursary to the local high school to award to a graduating student who will pursue a program that could lead to a career in aquaculture. On Thursday, Sep. 24 at 1 p.m., staff will discuss careers in aquaculture with grade 10-12 students at Duncan MacMillan High School.

Aquaculture is a $36-million industry in Nova Scotia, with more than 320 sites in the province farming salmon, oysters, mussels, trout, clams, quahog, arctic char and halibut.