Cooke aquaculture puts in application for big expansion
Kelly Cove Salmon, the subsidiary of Cooke Aquaculture has put in for a big expansion in Liverpool Bay
According to Joel Richardson, Vice President of Public Relations with Cooke Aquaculture, the application is to expand their current operation from 14 to 20 pens, and add two more sites of 20 pens each. The location would be close to their current site. Richardson added the expansion could add up to 20 new jobs.
The company made application with the province on March 6, which now goes under technical review with the various governmental levels of aquaculture departments. It will then go to the aquaculture review panel who will hold public hearings before making their decision. The public can continue to provide feedback and ask questions through Cooke Aquaculture’s website aquaculturegrowsns.ca.
All information they received from the public was submitted as part of the application, as well as a response to a letter written by the Region of Queens.
Richardson said unless there are delays in the process, the earliest he expects a decision would be about a year from now and if approved the pens would be stocked in 2021.
Meanwhile the group Protect Liverpool Bay, said they are working on a response. The group had put pressure on the Region of Queens municipal council to take a stand against the expansion, however Mayor David Dagley said they will remain neutral. The municipality has no say in the decision on whether the expansion is approved.