Cermaq's move follows on from the arrival of fellow salmon farming multinationals arrivals, Mowi and Grieg, on the east coast of Canada. And the company has outlined plans to produce 20,000 tonnes of salmon a year, create more than 300 jobs and contribute over $500 million to the local economy.
Cermaq, which is a subsidiary of Mitsubishi, is now due to conduct feasibility studies as well as extensive public consultations in Nova Scotia.
However, David Kiemele, managing director of Cermaq Canada, said that the company will need the support of the Mi'kmaq First Nation before they can proceed with their plans.
In a statement issued this week he said: "We are coming to listen, to learn and to ask questions. As excited as we are, we know that we need to have community, stakeholder and Mi'kmaq support to proceed, and we look forward to those discussions."
Keith Colwell, the provincial minister of fisheries and aquaculture, said he approved the options due to Cermaq's track record and attitude.
"They're very oriented toward communities, to people, the environment, all those things we'd be looking for in a company."
Linda Sams, Cermaq Canada's sustainable development director, said: "We are coming to Nova Scotia with open minds, hearts and ears; looking for guidance, local knowledge and history. We admit that we don't know what we don't know, as the saying goes.”
