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Panel to Provide Scientific Advice on Aquaculture

A committee of scientific experts will provide advice to government on regulating aquaculture development in Nova Scotia.

Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Keith Colwell announced the new committee today, Oct. 22, as the latest step in developing a new approach to developing aquaculture.

"We're moving to a new era where aquaculture regulation is built on transparency and accountability and this committee helps ensure that the decisions being made around development are based on facts and scientific evidence," said Mr. Colwell. "This is part of our commitment to balance the benefits of economic activity with protection of the environment as we move forward with regulating aquaculture in Nova Scotia."

The five-member committee provides a forum for ongoing discussion of the science of aquaculture and includes experts from the fields of oceanography, ecology, aquatic animal health and finfish and shellfish aquaculture.

The committee will identify relevant issues that could be addressed through regulation and policy and will give recommendations to the minister on scientific aspects of regulating aquaculture development.

The members, who all hold doctorates, are:

-- David Gray, chair, Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture, Truro

-- Larry Hammell, chair, Animal Health at the Atlantic Veterinary College, Charlottetown

-- Bruce Hatcher, chair, Marine Ecosystem Research at Cape Breton University and chair of Bras D'Or Institute, Sydney

-- Jay Parsons, director, Aquaculture Science Branch, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Ottawa

-- Sarah Stewart-Clarke, assistant professor of shellfish aquaculture at Dalhousie University, Truro

"I want to thank these highly qualified individuals for agreeing to share their experience and knowledge with us," said Mr. Colwell. "We're looking forward to receiving their advice and acting on it."

The development of new regulations is a response to the Auditor General's June 2015 report and the advice contained in the report of the independent aquaculture regulatory review.