Five Nations Clam Company Announces Partners
There was much speculation following the Feb. 21 announcement that the newly-created Five Nations Clam Company would be receiving the new, lucrative license for Arctic surf clams form the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
At the time, it was announced that the Five Nations Clam Company would be comprised of First Nations from Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick and will partner with Cape Breton-based Premium Seafoods to harvest, process and market the catch. However, the list of First Nations partners was not released.
It was not until March 8 that Chief Aaron Sock of Elsipogtog First Nation in New Brunswick, who represents Five Nations, announced the names of the four other partners: Abegweit First Nation in Prince Edward Island, Potlotek First Nation in Nova Scotia, the Innu First Nation of Nutashkuan in Quebec and the Southern Inuit of NunatuKavut in Labrador.
Nova Scotia Seafood Companies Impress in Brussels
Nova Scotia’s reputation as Canada’s leading seafood exporter was front and centre at Seafood Expo Global in Brussels, Belgium, April 24-26.
Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Keith Colwell led a delegation to the largest seafood show in Europe that included 15 exhibitors in the province’s booth and another five observers that explored export development by visiting the show.
Nova Scotia’s seafood exports reached $2 billion in 2017, a record performance that made the province the leading seafood exporter in the country for the third year in a row. The European Union was the third largest export market for the province’s seafood exports in 2017, worth $207 million.
N.S. Aquaculture Regulations to be Updated
The Nova Scotia government said its approach to regulating the aquaculture industry will improve with amendments to the Fisheries and Coastal Resources Act introduced March 9.
“Aquaculture is estimated to have been worth over $100 million to the Nova Scotia economy in 2017,” said Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Keith Colwell. “As we continue to improve our regulations, we are creating the conditions and clarity that will enable the industry to continue to grow responsibly and sustainably.”
The proposed changes will provide clarity to industry on various operational issues, and streamline some processes now in place. They include:
- allowing the amalgamation of two or more adjacent licensed aquaculture sites by the same operator under one licence
- requiring ministerial approval to apply to the Aquaculture Review Board to amend an existing licence or lease
- creating a class of institutional aquaculture licences and leases for non-commercial operations
- clarifying the process around the 30-day appeal period for Aquaculture Review Board decisions.
