
PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS - SAY NO TO OPEN NET-PEN AQUACULTURE !
HOW TO SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENTS TO NSDFA
HELP US PROTECT OUR BAYS
The Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries & Aquaculture (NSDFA) has posted an application for a new Land-based Aquaculture Licence for Kelly Cove Salmon Ltd., for an RAS large smolt facility in Digby County. The proposed hatchery is reportedly intended for the production of smolts to supply the company's net-pen salmon farm sites throughout Nova Scotia.
This Aquaculture Licence application is subject to an Administrative approval process.
Members of the public are invited to provide written comment on the application.
Written submissions will be accepted from:
12:00 AM on January 14, 2021 to 11:59 PM on February 12, 2021.
RE: Land-Based Aquaculture Licence (AQ#1436)
CENTREVILLE, Digby County, (Kelly Cove Salmon Ltd.) - AQ#1436
To view the Licence Application Documents & Maps click on the lease # above.
It's a critical time to TAKE A STAND! As a concerned citizen, business, or organization who understands why open net-pens are not sustainable for our ocean environment or the future of our coastal communities, you can participate in the process by submitting concerns about this application in writing before the deadline. An outline of the the submission criteria is included on the Application notice (link above). In order to ensure your written comments are accepted, we have prepared a step by step guide to assist you.

How to submit Public Comments to NSDFA
6 Step Guide
QUICK METHOD: SCROLL TO BOTTOM, COPY & PASTE OUR SAMPLE LETTER...OR ......FOLLOW THE STEPS BELOW.
1.
ADDRESS YOUR LETTER TO:
By Mail:
Aquaculture Administrator
Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture
1575 Lake Road, Shelburne, Nova Scotia, B0T 1W0
By Email: aqua.admin@novascotia.ca
By Fax: 902-875-7429
2.
SUBJECT LINE: Licence Application AQ#1436, Centreville, Digby County
3.
PARAGRAPH 1: DESCRIBE HOW YOU ARE CONNECTED TO THE PROPOSED APPLICATION SITE AND ITS OPERATIONS. Example; “As a resident of NS who understands the economic dependence of this Province on the Lobster fishery and Tourism industry, I believe that I have the right to speak my concerns on this topic. I am a local [property owner, lobster fisher or connected to the lobster fishery, a beach user, etc…]”
4.
PARAGRAPH 2+: STATE YOUR CONCERN. IT MUST BE RELATED TO ONE OR MORE OF 'FACTORS' a) to d) per Regulations Section 43, LISTED BELOW. Select the factor(s) relating to your matter, use our examples of relevant concerns for reference.
5.
MUST INCLUDE YOUR CONTACT INFO: Full name, Mailing Adress, Civic Address, Phone Number, Community, Province/State, Country, email address. (your street address, email address and phone numbers are not shared publicly)
NOTE: Failure to include the required contact info will result in your submission being rejected.
6.
CC: your local MP, your local MLA, and Minister of DFO
SUBMIT! Submissions will be accepted by post mail, email, or fax.
Sect. 43, FACTORS
a) to d)
4 FACTORS
Select one of the factors below, reference our related examples of "concerns", copy this into your letter and/or add your own words.
a) The financial viability of the proponent and proposed operation;
"Cooke Aquaculture (Kelly Cove Salmon) is from NB, the fish are owned, processed and sold outside of NS and most all the money goes back to NB. And this is all while these fin-fish aquaculture sites pollute our local waters and put a $2 Billion lobster industry at risk."
b) The extent to which the proposal is in accordance with the Act, the relevant regulations made under the Act and any guidelines or policies established by the Minister;
c) The technical viability of the proposed operation;
d) Any factors that the Administrator considers relevant to the application;
Copy & Paste Option
SAMPLE LETTER
AQUACULTURE ADMINISTRATOR
Nova Scotia Department of
Fisheries & Aquaculture
1575 Lake Road
Shelburne, Nova Scotia
B0T 1W0
Via email: aqua.admin@novascotia.ca
RE: Licence Application AQ#1436, CENTREVILLE, Digby County
As a resident of Nova Scotia who understands the economic dependence of this province on the Lobster fishery and Tourism industry, I believe that I have the right to speak my concerns on this topic. [I am a local property owner, lobster fisher or connected to the lobster fishery, a beach user, etc........]
I am deeply concerned how this 10 year term aquaculture license for a proposed hatchery is intended to support and enable the continued expansion of Cooke's open net-pen operations and their known detrimental effects of our coastal bays and communities. As clearly stated in the application Kelly Cove Salmon are unable to control "biological and environmental challenges including severe weather conditions and disease outbreaks". Merely shortening the duration of the salmon's grow out in open net-pens is not a solution. Banning them from Atlantic Coastal waters is the only acceptable solution to eliminate this risks, as is being done in British Columbia.
I request that these concerns be acknowledged and duly considered in the review of the above noted Licence Application.
Sincerely,
Full Name
Mailing Address
Civic Address
Community
Province / State / Country
Phone Number
email address
cc: your local MP
your local MLA
Minister, Dept of Fisheries & Oceans Canada