Touch, Taste Nova Scotia Aquaculture

There will be a tasty addition to the province's aquaculture summer outreach program this year, which also includes the popular touch tank and an aquarium.

Some of these various components will be displayed at events across the province. The Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, in partnership with the Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia wants more Nova Scotians to try farmed seafood. Locally farmed products, such as salmon and cultivated mussels, will be served at select festival and events that are hosting the aquaculture outreach team throughout the province this summer. The Taste for Aquaculture component complements the previous aquaculture outreach display.

"We want more Nova Scotians to recognize that farmed seafood is healthy, sustainable, grown in Nova Scotia and delicious to eat," said Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Sterling Belliveau. "Aquaculture has great potential to create good jobs and grow the economy, especially in our rural, coastal communities."

The popular aquaculture touch tank, with over 10,000 visitors last year, continues to be a main attraction at many events. The touch tank gives people a hands-on opportunity to experience locally farmed shellfish species, such as sea scallops, mussels and oysters.

Also new this year, some events will host the closed, climate-controlled aquaculture aquarium that gives visitors an up-close look at local farmed species, such as salmon and halibut.

The department and the aquaculture association employs students to run the aquaculture outreach summer program, which focuses on education and awareness about aquaculture in Nova Scotia. The program is in it's fourth year.

The aquaculture display will visit the following events with sampling at select events:

• June 19-20: Catch Seafood Festival, Cunard Centre, Halifax
• June 26: Englishtown Mussel Festival, Englishtown Hall
• July 2-4: Liverpool Privateer Days, Liverpool
• July 9-11: Pictou Lobster Carnival, near Pictou Hatchery
• July 17-18: Halifax Waterfront
• July 23-24: Cape Breton Dragon Boat Festival, Sydney
• Aug 2: Halifax Natal Day, Sullivan's Pond, Dartmouth
• Aug 5-6: Western Nova Scotia Exhibition, Yarmouth
• Aug 7-8: Digby Scallop Days, Digby Marina
• Aug 14-15: Lockeport Sea Derby, Government Wharf
• Aug 20-21: Wedgeport Tuna Tournament, Breakwater Wharf
• Aug 22: Clam Harbour Sandcastle Competition,
• Aug 28: Queens County SeaFest (tentative)

The aquaculture outreach program of events is available online at www.gov.ns.ca/fish/aquaculture .