SAVE OUR BAYS.
DELAYED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE DUE TO HURRICANE FIONA
You’ll remember, our campaign to stop Cermaq’s plan in 2020 was successful, but little did we know at the time - that was just the warm-up. Within hours of Cermaq’s departure, Cooke Aquaculture declared their intention to expand. A really good overview of what industry and Government want to roll out can be found on our Healthy Bays Network website at (https://www.healthybays.ca/salmon-wars).
In case you have not heard, a new book was recently released titled "Salmon Wars". It deals with the realities of open net pen finfish farming and could not have been released at a better time. Twin Bays is co-sponsoring several events announced in the poster above, to provide you with an opportunity to learn more and meet the authors of "Salmon Wars".
Authors Douglas Frantz and Catherine Collins, a Pulitzer Prize-winning correspondent and a former private investigator, dive deep into the murky waters of the international salmon farming industry, exposing the unappetizing truth about this fish raised in ocean cages.
Frantz and Collins document how the industrialization of Atlantic salmon threatens this keystone species, endangers our health and environment, and lines the pockets of our generation's version of Big Tobacco.
Both events will open with an overview of the provincial situation by Simon Ryder- Burbidge from the Ecology Action Centre, and John MacDonald who lives in Bayswater, adjacent to an open net pen operation sharing his personal account of how this industry impacts the quality of life in coastal communities. The main event will feature Catherine and Doug presenting a summary of the book, after which they will be interviewed by Chris Heide.
All are welcome. Masks are encouraged. Copies of the book will be for sale by LaHave River Books. For those who are unable to attend in person, the event in Mahone Bay will be livestreamed. Here is the link, or check the South Shore Council of Canadians Facebook page just before 7:00pm."
OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS :
On 25 September: Astor Theatre in Liverpool starting at 2:00 PM
On 4 October: Memory Lane Historic Village, Lake Charlotte, NS starting at 6:30
On 13 October: The retailer Patagonia will be hosting an event in Halifax - time and location to be determined.
We hope to see you at one of these events!
TWIN BAYS COALITION
We are the citizens of St. Margaret's Bay and Mahone Bay, dedicated to preserving and restoring the health of our marine ecosystems and coastal communities. From bay-to-bay, we are working together in opposition to the government-supported expansion of open net-pen salmon aquaculture in our backyard. Instead, we are driving a different vision for a vibrant, resilient, sustainable and regenerative ocean economy that supports coastal livelihoods without degrading our home waters or putting existing jobs at risk.
WHAT'S
NEW
We are doing everything we can to ensure that we prevent the expansion of open net-pen salmon farming in the Twin Bays, and keep our local waters as healthy as they can be. Head to our WHAT'S NEW page for the latest.
BAYSWATER BEACH
Within our bays, we have one open net-pen finfish operation at Aspotogan Harbour near Bayswater Beach Provincial Park, just up the coast from Blandford.
The operator has applied to the Aquaculture Review Board (ARB) for a lease expansion, but there's a catch: the expansion has already happened. The Twin Bays Coalition plans to intervene in the ARB hearing that will decide on this retroactive approval.
Why do we care about this? Check out our BAYSWATER page to learn more about the beach and the apparent impacts the fish farm expansion has had on the local environment.
THE TWIN BAYS COALITION STORY
The Twin Bays Coalition first came together to fend off a massive open net-pen salmon farming proposal by Cermaq Canada that would have forever changed the nature of our bays. In the face of terrific public opposition, Cermaq packed up and left officially in April of 2020, abandoning development plans. The very next day, Cooke Aquaculture reaffirmed their plans to significantly increase the amount of farmed salmon currently produced in Nova Scotia. Now they are continuing with expansion plans throughout the province, including at Saddle Island, on the Aspotogan Peninsula. This site, known as AQ # 1006, Aspotogan Harbour, has become the new focal point of our local efforts.
Keep up-to-date about the latest actions and outcomes and help us amplify the voices around the province against open net pens.
Twelve of the most devastating impacts felt by communities, ocean ecology and livelihoods because of open net pens.
Download and share!
If there is only one thing you do today to help protect Nova Scotia's shorelines from open net fish farming, write your MLA.
The company name has changed, but the game is still the same. The people of the Twin Bays rolled in like a tornado when Cermaq came to town, developing and attending public events, writing letters, handing out signs, publishing articles, posting on socials, sharing resources and so much more. Let's rev it up again.