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A proposal to expand a fish farm near Coffin Island in Queens County is under review this week, as public hearings get underway in Bridgewater.
Cooke Aquaculture is seeking permission to add six cages to its existing open-net pen site off Beach Meadows Beach.
The expansion would significantly increase the farm’s capacity, allowing it to raise up to 660,000 Atlantic salmon across a 100-acre area.
The hearings are being held by Nova Scotia’s aquaculture review board, which is tasked with evaluating the environmental, social, and economic impacts of the proposed expansion.
Sessions are taking place at the Days Inn in Bridgewater and will continue through Friday. Public attendance is encouraged, and a livestream is available online.
Local opposition to the project has been strong, with community groups and environmental advocates raising concerns about the impact of open-net pen aquaculture on marine ecosystems and coastal communities.
Protect Liverpool Bay, a grassroots organization, has been actively campaigning against the expansion since 2018 and is one of the official intervenors in the hearing.
The group is being represented by environmental law charity Ecojustice and has mobilized supporters to attend the hearings, offering ride shares to ensure accessibility. Despite legal support, the group estimates it will spend around $25,000 on expert witnesses and other hearing-related costs.
Other intervenors include a group of 22 lobster fishermen from Liverpool Bay and the Region of Queens Municipality. The involvement of other previously listed parties, including the Wasoqopa’q First Nation and the Brooklyn Marina, remains unclear.
If the expansion is approved, it would mark a significant increase in Cooke’s footprint in the region, despite public opposition.
The outcome of the hearings could shape the future of aquaculture policy in Nova Scotia.
