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Financial feasibility of closed containment for salmon grow-out still unproven

September 19, 2014  By Tom Walker


An independent report commissioned by Nova Scotia’s Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, acknowledges that growing Atlantic salmon in land-based, closed-containment facilities is technically feasible.

         But consultants Gardner Pinfold also note in their report that the commercial viability of the concept has yet to be proven.

         “Technical feasibility has been demonstrated, though some issues remain to be fully resolved,” reads the recently released report. “Financial feasibility remains to be confirmed by actual performance of commercial-scale facilities.”

         The report confirms that land-based, closed-containment, water-treating and recirculating salmon production would have to be done on a large-scale to overcome the higher engineering, building, labour and energy costs inherent in the model.

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         The use of high-efficiency water-recirculation processes, precludes the need to be in or near coastal communities or rural areas where water supplies are abundant, but this would mean higher operating costs.

         “This report by Gardner Pinfold will assist us as we move forward with developing a new, comprehensive aquaculture framework for Nova Scotia,” said Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Keith Colwell.

         The full report is available on the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture website http://novascotia.ca/fish/


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