Cooke examines expansion option in Nova Scotia

Cooke’s subsidiary, Kelly Cove Salmon Ltd, has been given an Option to Lease issued by Nova Scotia Fisheries and Aquaculture for Liverpool Bay, according to NovaNewsNow.com.

During the option period (September 7, 2018 to March 7, 2019) the company will be “exploring the option location to determine potential fit to establish an aquaculture site. This investigation may lead to future applications for specific sites,” states the lease option notice.

‘Not a licence’

“An Option to Lease is not an aquaculture licence or lease, so no aquacultural products will be introduced during this period,” the notice continues. “Any applications arising from this Option to Lease process will be reviewed for final decision by the independent Aquaculture Review Board.”

Cooke public relations chief Joel Richardson told NovaNewsNow.com that as part of the process a community open house is being held in Liverpool tomorrow, October 30, giving local people a chance to learn more about the company.

Long-term vision

“The Liverpool option for sea farming site growth is one part of the Cooke family’s long-term vision and commitment to reinvesting in Atlantic Canada,” said Richardson. “As a fully integrated, fish farming company, our Nova Scotia operations play an important role of our companies’ plan for steady, sustainable growth in response to consumer demand.”

Over the next five years Cooke Aquaculture could spend upwards of Can$500 million on pan-Atlantic capital and operations projects, he said.

Currently there is one finfish aquaculture site in Liverpool Bay, which was established in 2002 and has been operated by Cooke Aquaculture since 2011. Cooke operates 10 sea sites in Nova Scotia: two in Queens County, six in Shelburne County and two in Digby County.