GOVERNMENT ACTION
MUNICIPAL ACTION
Municipalities across the province are saying NO! to open pen fish farms!
The Council of the Town of Mahone Bay passed the following resolution at its regular Council meeting, February 11, 2020:
BE IT RESOLVED that the Town of Mahon Bay unequivocally declares its opposition to the development of any open-pen fish farms in or around the waters of Mahone Bay and that the rationale for same be communicated as soon as possible to the Federal and Provincial Ministers of Fisheries and Aquaculture, as well as to local MLAs, and to parties who have made presentations to Council on this topic.
The Municipality of Chester expressed its opposition to the expansion of open pen salmon farming in the coastal waters surrounding the community on March 13, 2020:
At their regular meeting on February 12, 2020, Chester Village Commissioners voted unanimously in favour of a motion to oppose all open pen fin fish farms off the coast of Nova Scotia.
Municipality of the District of Guysborough (MODG)
MODG officially registers their support for the Guysborough County Inshore Fishermens Association (GCIFA), March 24, 2020.
Though they recognize that licensing and regulation of open net pens is beyond their jurisdiction, Council communicates the concerns and opposition to open net pens of the many individuals and organizations that have presented to them. (February 26, 2020.)
PROVINCIAL ACTION
Though Hugh MacKay believes open pen fish farming can work, he recognizes that, regardless of his own personal views, elected officials must represent their constituents. Because the vast majority of voters he’s heard from are opposed, he writes:
"Therefore, in all conscience, I cannot continue to support commercial pursuit of potential sites for open net aquaculture sites off our shores."
