Nova Scotia has pristine bays, superb coastal waters, sustainable wild catch fisheries, and rural communities that are absolute gems by any standards. We have all of this and so much more, however the business model of open net pen fish farming threatens the entire province. It is a serious situation.

​

The Healthy Bays Network is a province wide, community based and community led resistance movement. We believe that Nova Scotia and Nova Scotians deserve much better than the open net-pen model, and we are proud to say it publicly.

​

The Government of Nova Scotia and the Government of Canada genuinely believe that feedlot fish farms are assets to this province and this region. Nothing could be further from the truth.

 

Feedlot fish farms pollute our coastal waters, threaten our wild caught fisheries, and diminish dramatically the value of any and all adjacent activities and coastal properties. Feedlot fish farms threaten our Atlantic Salmon by diminishing the genetic makeup of our wild fish when farmed salmon escape from the net-pens.

 

Further, the reputation, value and marketability of our wild caught species hang in the balance. If we were to suffer the inevitable national and international exposure to the nature of the coastal net pen fish farms - if for instance, certain groups in Europe and Asia were to become aware of the polluting aspects of these industrial aquaculture operations - the value of our entire fisheries could plummet overnight.

​

Open net-pen salmon farms do not produce the employment that is claimed, and they do not generate the tax dollars for our province that we only wish they did…

​

So, we must take the high road, promote our wild fisheries and an increasingly green economy, and leave open net-pen fish farming to other jurisdictions which have not yet seen the light. We must take this important and timely message to government, to industry, to consumers, to the media and your next door neighbour and her dog if it comes down to it.

 

We need a strong voice representative of all Nova Scotian, and especially of those of in the coastal communities most impacted by these developments. We want and we need you to join the Healthy Bays Network. Your support and the support of the member you next recruit can make a massive difference!

​

With gratitude, on behalf of the Healthy Bays Network team.