Sterling Belliveau wants to know why government hasn’t been more forthcoming about the number of farmed salmon found dead or escaped from an aquaculture site in Shelburne.
The NDP MLA for the area says local fishers are seeing hundreds of dead fish in the water over the past weeks and are concerned about wild fish stocks.
Keith Colwell, the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture says it’s up to the company to report any deaths or escapes of farmed salmon.
“There’s a community group that they’re supposed to consult with on a regular basis. I’m hopeful that they’ve reached out to them. We’ve actually taken the unusual step of reminding them they have to do that and hopefully hey will bring the information forward.”
Colwell says Cooke Aquaculture hasn’t provided his department with any accurate numbers yet but doesn’t feel the company is misleading officials.
“I would say not at this point. I have a concern that they haven’t gone to the public enough.”
Colwell says his department is continuing to investigate.
