Cooke planning $30 million salmon facility

Kelly Cove Salmon, a subsidiary of Cooke Aquaculture Inc., is in the early planning stages to build a $30 million recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) in the Champlain Industrial Park located at Bayside, near St. Andrews.
"The facility will use the most advanced water recirculation technology available," states Joel Richardson, vice president, public relations, for Cooke Aquaculture. "We believe it will be the first facility to use this technology in Canada." It is expected the facility will employ approximately 15 people.
Richardson explains that the facility will be used to grow salmon larger on land, prior to their transfer to saltwater farming pens. Currently salmon smolts are transferred when they weigh around 120 grams. The proposed facility will help them grow to be at least 300 grams. From the facility, smolts will be loaded directly onto a well-boat to be taken to saltwater pens. Richardson says that "is a big benefit to the coastal location in the Champlain Industrial Park." He adds that this type of facility fits with the existing activities of the Bayside port.
Commenting on the advantages of growing salmon to a larger size before they are placed in sea cages, Richardson states, "Science shows that adding stronger, larger fish to the net pens reduces the chances of fish health issues. This new facility helps to reduce fish handling, reduce time at sea and reduce days to market, using the latest innovations and technology."
On February 12 at the Bayside Community Hall, Kelly Cove Salmon presented the project proposal, design and water requirements to representatives of the Chamcook Watershed Landowners' Association and other local stakeholders, including representatives from Eastern Charlotte Waterways, the Regional Service Planning Commission, Bayside Local Service District, Town of St. Andrews and the Atlantic Salmon Federation. According to Richardson, the stakeholders expressed support for the proposed post‑smolt facility, particularly given that the water requirements are so low compared to the previous Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF) flow-through system utilizing the Chamcook watershed and that Kelly Cove Salmon would be utilizing the most modern recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) technology available.
Kelly Cove Salmon will now be applying to the New Brunswick Department of Environment and Local Government to drill additional wells for water testing and supply in the Chamcook watershed. The proposed facility would not draw water from Chamcook Lake but rather from deeper groundwater wells located farther into the watershed. This approach is comparable to formerly active wells used to supply businesses in the Champlain Industrial Park, Richardson notes.
According to Richardson, if well testing shows that the facility's water requirements can be met and the project viability proves sound, Kelly Cove Salmon could then register to the province for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). As part of the EIA process, Kelly Cove Salmon would advertise and hold a public meeting for additional community input.
"As a local family‑owned company, Cooke Aquaculture is focused on sustainable seafood production, and investment in research and development, innovation and facilities upgrades are always a top priority," Richardson states. "This new Bayside facility is an important component of our vision for the future to invest locally, which could see $198 million spent on upgrade projects and create approximately 258 new, full-time jobs in New Brunswick over five years."