Aquaculture operations and projects across Nova Scotia are developing new products, improving production and boosting quality, because of funding from the province.
Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister, Sterling Belliveau, announced last week C$793,499 in funding for Nova Scotia aquaculture operators and projects to boost capabilities. The investment is part of $2.5 million in aquaculture funding from the Community Development Trust Fund.
"With 330 sites throughout Nova Scotia, the aquaculture industry provides jobs in our coastal communities and has great potential to grow," said Mr Belliveau. "These sites provide a variety of high-quality shellfish, marine plants, and fish to local, national and international markets."
The Community Development Trust Fund is a $34.9-million programme established in 2008 by the federal government to help communities and sectors experiencing economic challenges.
"This funding is assisting in research, quality development, production and communication initiatives," said Mr Belliveau. "The support of these projects will ensure aquaculture continues to grow within the province and provide secure jobs in our communities."
The priorities of the trust fund, are to enhance sustainable prosperity; diversify economic and trade opportunities; improve productivity, innovation and training; assist communities with transition planning; and help workers facing adjustment challenges.
Projects receiving funding are:
- Acadian Seaplants Limited, of Dartmouth, for a research project titled: Efficacy maintenance in seaweed functional food products
- Atlantic Aqua Farms Partnership of Guysborough, to develop processing technology for tunicate removal from blue mussel lines
- Atlantic Canada Eels, of Springhill, Cumberland Co., to help American eel grow-out and commercialisation
- Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia, to develop an Eider duck electronic monitoring and mitigation technology to avoid predation on blue mussel lines
- Bay Enterprises Ltd./AquaDelights Seafoods Ltd. of Malagash, Cumberland Co., and Chance Harbour, Pictou Co.,help produce bay scallop seed for commercial-scale growing
- Dunphy's Oysters of Dingwall, Victoria Co., to help develop an upweller and floating bag system for oysters
- Dynamic Systems Analysis Ltd, of Halifax, to assess the potential of conventional finfish aquaculture technology for high-energy (offshore) operations using time-domain simulation
- Eel Lake Oyster Farm Ltd. of Ste. Anne-Du-Ruisseau, Yarmouth Co., to help produce American oysters using floating oyster bag technology
- Innovative Fisheries Products of Belliveau Cove, Digby Co., to help culture-based enhancement and management of soft-shell clam beds in western Nova Scotia
- Robert Livingstone of Coxheath, Cape Breton Regional Municipality, to help build an oyster spat collection raft
- LURA Consulting of Halifax, to create a protocol that guides department and industry communications to build public confidence
- Mabou Harbour Shellfish Producers Association of Mabou, Inverness Co., to apply screw anchor technology on suspended oyster gear
- SeaPerfect Cultivation of Richmond County, to sort sea scallop spat using a mechanical spat sorter, and
- Stantec Development of Halifax, to create a roadmap for investment in Nova Scotia to help aquaculture expand in a progressive and sustainable manner.
