Cermaq Canada recently received two land options for salmon farms in Mahone Bay and St. Margarets Bay.
The actual site of potential farms remains to be determined, environmental surveys and consultations with local Mikmaq representatives have to take place first.
Cermaq estimates that two facilities would generate about 300 jobs and bring $500 million to the local economy.
Some local environmental groups are hesitant about the idea due to multiple concerns.
President of Save Liverpool Bay, Brian Muldoon says the risks are not worth the potential financial benefit.
“The research says the pollution alone could be catastrophic, the feces produced from one of these farms would be the equivalent of a city of over one hundred thousand people.”
He also doesn’t think the Mahone Bay area is particularly suitable.
“We often get freezing temperatures in the oceans and that can end up killing a lot of these fish as they are not able to move around as freely.”
Muldoon is aware of the importance the fishing industry has and suggests an alternative course of action.
“If they build inland a lot of the risk is removed. The fish can’t escape and contaminate the local populations and you can contain all the waste.
Save Liverpool Bay is primarily focused on Liverpool Bay but Muldoon says they would gladly help Mahone Bay residents to ensure if a fish farm is built it is done so in an environmentally stable way.
