Nova Scotia renews Kelly Cove Salmon licence in Aspotogan Harbour.
The Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture has renewed Kelly Cove Salmon’s marine aquaculture licence for a 10-year term at its Aspotogan Harbour site in Lunenburg County.
The farm, located offshore from Bayswater Beach near Saddle Island, has been in operation for three decades cultivating Atlantic salmon.
The renewal followed a public comment period and technical review under the Aquaculture Licence and Lease Regulations. The Department concluded that objections relating to impacts on wild salmon, lobster stocks, tourism and Bayswater Beach were unproven.
Its findings included:
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no evidence of adverse effects on lobster populations or the lobster fishery;
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sediments at Bayswater Beach were consistent with natural geology and organic matter, not the farm;
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the site remains suitable for finfish cultivation;
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the company has complied with the Environmental Monitoring Program.
The Department also said the farm provides social and economic benefits to the community through jobs, local suppliers and services.
Kelly Cove is the Atlantic Canadian salmon farming division of Cooke Aquaculture. The company employs 315 full-time staff in Nova Scotia and has invested more than CAD 250 million in salmon farming, processing, distribution and related operations in the province.
The decision document is available on the Nova Scotia government website here.
