hello nova scotia! · work. we have also started reaching out and listening to local fishermen...

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www.hellonovascotia.ca Page 1 of 11 Hello Nova Scotia! Cermaq Canada is thinking about expanding its salmon farming industry into Nova Scotia and wants to hear from you. August 2019 Update Cermaq Canada is considering expanding our salmon farming operations into A quick summary of where we are As you may have heard, Cermaq Canada is currently investigating the possibility of expanding our Atlantic salmon farming operations into Nova Scotia - specifically the Digby, Guysborough and Richmond areas. In early April, we (Cermaq) announced that we had been awarded three Options to Lease - two in the Chedabucto Bay region, and one south of Digby. The Options allow for six months of exclusive investigation into feasibility of the identified areas. Since then, we have started the process of gathering data and site visits to be used in our feasibility work. We have also started reaching out and listening to local fishermen associations and groups, local governments, local community leaders and the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia to get a sense of questions, concerns and an understanding of the existing and successful commercial fishing industry and local communities. The information gathered from these conversations and collected during our feasibility and site investigation work is going to be used as the basis for whether we move to the next step, which would be applying for a lease and license. We are still at the very early stages of the process, but we know a few things coming into this. We know that we have to find enough suitable sites to accommodate up to 20,000 metric tonnes of production. The reason for this is that we don’t own any facilities in Nova Scotia – and in order to set up business, we would need to build or purchase all of the required infrastructure. The minimum size of operations required to support the business costs to start up is about 20,000 metric tonnes. We know that we need to have the support of communities, commercial fisheries, local fishermen and associations, government and the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia. In short, if we can’t find a way to add value, coexist and build opportunity for Nova Scotians, then we won’t proceed. We also know that in order to fully engage with Nova Scotians, fishermen, communities, government and the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia – and get all of the required data to make a decision – we will need more time. To that end, we have applied for a six-month extension of our Options to Lease, which would mean that instead of expiring in late October, they would now expire in late March, 2020. This allows us some additional time to have dialogue with fishermen, residents, Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia, communities and elected officials and really get an understanding of priorities, concerns, and the values of these regions. It also allows us to collect another set of winter data, so that when we do make a decision, we have a full picture of the conditions and potential opportunities and concerns for sites. Just what does 20,000 metric tonnes of production look like? This is about the production capacity of our operations in BC, so we are familiar with the size, requirements and demands of a business of this size. We currently have two offices on the Island – our headquarters in Campbell River, and a secondary office, which also houses a processing plant, in Tofino. Employees arriving by boat to one of our farms.

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Page 1: Hello Nova Scotia! · work. We have also started reaching out and listening to local fishermen associations and groups, local governments, local community leaders and the Mi’kmaq

www.hellonovascotia.ca Page 1 of 11

Hello Nova Scotia!

Cermaq Canada is thinking about expanding its salmon farming industry into Nova Scotia and wants to hear from you. August 2019 Update Cermaq Canada is considering expanding our salmon farming operations into Nova Scotia and we want to hear from you. Spring 2019

A quick summary of where we are As you may have heard, Cermaq Canada is currently investigating the possibility of expanding our Atlantic salmon farming operations into Nova Scotia - specifically the Digby, Guysborough and Richmond areas. In early April, we (Cermaq) announced that we had been awarded three Options to Lease - two in the Chedabucto Bay region, and one south of Digby. The Options allow for six months of exclusive investigation into feasibility of the identified areas. Since then, we have started the process of gathering data and site visits to be used in our feasibility work. We have also started reaching out and listening to local fishermen associations and groups, local governments, local community leaders and the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia to get a sense of questions, concerns and an understanding of the existing and successful commercial fishing industry and local communities. The information gathered from these conversations and collected during our feasibility and site investigation work is going to be used as the basis for whether we move to the next step, which would be applying for a lease and license. We are still at the very early stages of the process, but we know a few things coming into this. We know that we have to find enough suitable sites to accommodate up to 20,000 metric tonnes of production. The reason for this is that we don’t own any facilities in Nova Scotia – and in order to set up business, we would need to build or purchase all of the required infrastructure. The minimum size of operations required to support the business costs to start up is about 20,000 metric tonnes. We know that we need to have the support of communities, commercial fisheries, local fishermen and associations, government and the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia. In short, if we can’t find a way to add value, coexist and build opportunity for Nova Scotians, then we won’t proceed. We also know that in order to fully engage with Nova Scotians, fishermen, communities, government and the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia – and get all of the required data to make a decision – we will need more time. To that end, we have applied for a six-month extension of our Options to Lease, which would mean that instead of expiring in late October, they would now expire in late March, 2020. This allows us some additional time to have dialogue with fishermen, residents, Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia, communities and elected officials and really get an understanding of priorities, concerns, and the values of these regions. It also allows us to collect another set of winter data, so that when we do make a decision, we have a full picture of the conditions and potential opportunities and concerns for sites.

Just what does 20,000 metric tonnes of production look like? This is about the production capacity of our operations in BC, so we are familiar with the size, requirements and demands of a business of this size. We currently have two offices on the Island – our headquarters in Campbell River, and a secondary office, which also houses a processing plant, in Tofino. Employees arriving by boat to one of our farms.

Page 2: Hello Nova Scotia! · work. We have also started reaching out and listening to local fishermen associations and groups, local governments, local community leaders and the Mi’kmaq

www.hellonovascotia.ca Page 2 of 11

Hello Nova Scotia!

Cermaq Canada is thinking about expanding its salmon farming industry into Nova Scotia and wants to hear from you. August 2019 Update Cermaq Canada is considering expanding our salmon farming operations into Nova Scotia and we want to hear from you. Spring 2019

Aside from offices, we do own the above-mentioned processing plant in Tofino, which is where our fish from the west coast of Island go for primary processing. We contract with another processing facility off the east coast of the Island for our fish on the east coast. In BC, we have 26 farm licenses, with about two thirds of them in production at any given time. We do rotate stocking and production to allow for area-based management and fallowing of our sites. To supply our farms, we have four hatcheries. The hatcheries are where we collect eggs and milt, fertilize, and then grow our fish to the smolt stage, when they are then transferred to our ocean farms. Ideally, our hatcheries need to be in locations which support easy transport to our farms and have access to ground water. On the Island – our hatcheries are located in Port Alberni, Duncan, north of Campbell River and one south of Courtenay. We have several smaller warehouse sites – one in Campbell River, one in Port McNeill and a works yard in Tofino, adjacent to the office and processing plant. Knowing we operate in a large geographic area, we offer employee transportation from communities like Campbell River, Ahousaht Village and Port Alberni to help get our employees get to where they need to go. We employ between 250 and 300 people (the variance depends on our level of processing) and support hundreds of local businesses.

230,000,000.00

33,000,000.0024,000,000.0011,400,000.00

112,000,000.00

12,500,000.00110,000,000.00

Approximate spend with local suppliers and vendors 2015 - 2018 in CDN $

Feed

Maintenance

Processing, packing,cold storage, transportDivers

Services

Nets

Utilities, taxes,benefits, consultants

Page 3: Hello Nova Scotia! · work. We have also started reaching out and listening to local fishermen associations and groups, local governments, local community leaders and the Mi’kmaq

www.hellonovascotia.ca Page 3 of 11

Hello Nova Scotia!

Cermaq Canada is thinking about expanding its salmon farming industry into Nova Scotia and wants to hear from you. August 2019 Update Cermaq Canada is considering expanding our salmon farming operations into Nova Scotia and we want to hear from you. Spring 2019

Our Tofino office, processing plant and works yard are located in downtown Tofino which borders the Pacific Rim National Park and is included within a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The region is visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists every year and one of the main industries is eco-tourism - including wildlife tours, guided fishing and lifestyle travellers. So how do we blend in and act as good community members? By respecting the environment, our neighbors and the community values. We also operate under our corporate values of long-term perspective, corporate responsibility to society and sharing success and concerns and holding true to our commitments of sustainability, helping to improve ocean health and building strong communities.

What we were up to in July? It seems like July just blew right on by for us! We were busy on both ends of the province talking with local fishermen, pushing on with our feasibility work and continuing to engage with the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia.

Down in Digby, along with meeting with some local fishermen, we were also happy to be able to participate in the Digby Lobster Bash. We had an information booth at the event – and were happy to meet with so many locals and tourists. We also sponsored the 3km Mud Race and Beach Crafts.

Above: talking with fishermen in Canso

Left: Out and about in Canso talking with local

fishermen. From left to right Director of Fish Health

Kathleen Frisch, Managing Director David Kiemele,

Sustainable Development Director Linda Sams, East

Coast Sustainable Development Director Vicki Savoie

and Paula Galloway from Cargill/EWOS.

An aerial view of the archipelago off the coast of Tofino - where we live, work and farm.

Left: Winner of the beach craft

competition.

Right: The Cermaq information booth

at the Lobster Bash. L to R - Vicki, Linda

and Jason Mullens, our Digby area

Community Liaison.

Below: Meeting some great people at

our booth. Below: Capping off a great weekend with a

lobster boil on the beach. L to R: Jason, Kathleen

and Cassie Purcka, Engagement and Project

Coordinator

Our smallest visitor

Page 4: Hello Nova Scotia! · work. We have also started reaching out and listening to local fishermen associations and groups, local governments, local community leaders and the Mi’kmaq

www.hellonovascotia.ca Page 4 of 11

Hello Nova Scotia!

Cermaq Canada is thinking about expanding its salmon farming industry into Nova Scotia and wants to hear from you. August 2019 Update Cermaq Canada is considering expanding our salmon farming operations into Nova Scotia and we want to hear from you. Spring 2019

We also received the keys for our office in Guysborough (9994-9996 Highway 16, Unit D, Guysborough) and are busy working to get it ready. Part of that work is looking for a new team member who will be working closely with our East Coast Sustainable Development Director Vicki Savoie. We have completed an updated job posting for our Guysborough office, which is available on our website (www.HelloNovaScotia.ca) and included at the end of this newsletter. The position – Sustainability Development Coordinator – will be based in our Guysborough office and support the East Coast Sustainable Development Director, Vicki Savoie. With the addition of Vicki to the team, we realized that the skill set required could be more community facing and that we really need a person who can act as an advocate for the local community. The role will gather feedback, opinions, concerns and information that will be used when making decisions regarding any potential next steps. Last but definitely not least – we closed out the month the best way we could think of – by being a part of the annual Stan Rogers Festival in Canso. As the Greening Sponsor of the event, we helped to keep the event plastic-free, which is a great fit for our company as we are committed to helping to reduce ocean plastics and improving marine and beach habitats. We also supplied some salmon fillets and smoked salmon samples for the performers. Overall, we had an amazing time, met some great people and got to enjoy a fantastic event that really did take an entire community to pull off. Thank you to the event organizers and the community for hosting such a fun, inclusive and entertaining event. We had a great time, and felt so welcomed.

Our first peek at our new digs

and soon to be office.

Right: What’s on the menu? Cermaq salmon served two ways. Thanks to all the amazing kitchen staff who worked hard to make sure no one left hungry.

Below: Getting our hands dirty. Team members (from left to right) Vicki Savoie, Terra MacDonald and Cassie Purcka slicing and dicing up over 200 fillets for the weekend.

That’s our Cassie! Thank you again to the festival organizers who welcomed Cassie up to the stage to say a bit about us, and how we were proud to be the greening sponsor for the three-day event.

Page 5: Hello Nova Scotia! · work. We have also started reaching out and listening to local fishermen associations and groups, local governments, local community leaders and the Mi’kmaq

www.hellonovascotia.ca Page 5 of 11

Hello Nova Scotia!

Cermaq Canada is thinking about expanding its salmon farming industry into Nova Scotia and wants to hear from you. August 2019 Update Cermaq Canada is considering expanding our salmon farming operations into Nova Scotia and we want to hear from you. Spring 2019

What we heard from the fishermen During the meetings with commercial lobster fishermen in the Guysborough and Digby regions, we heard some consistent questions – three in particular stood out.

1. If we do proceed with applying for farms – where will they be located? The short answer is that we don’t have any specific sites selected at this point. We are coming at it from the approach of first eliminating those areas that we know won’t be feasible for farm siting due to water temperatures, depth and current speeds. There will be two main influencers in the narrowing down process. The first will be the feasibility of the area for farming and items like current speed, ocean floor, depth and water temperatures. The second, and equally as important, will be the feedback and input collected from commercial fishermen, residents, the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia and other water users and associations. We are looking to these groups for information regarding good commercial fishing areas, nurseries, local marine traffic usage, traditional use and sight lines. We are very early in this process, and don’t quite have enough information to start ruling sites out. We will be sitting back down with the commercial fishermen associations in the coming months to highlight valuable fishing areas and other concerns or reasons we should be excluding them from our investigations. As part of our monthly newsletters – we will begin to share a detailed feasibility schedule, which will include planned areas of focus for the coming month and any decisions regarding sites, eliminations and next steps. We will also be providing updates through our website (www.hellonovascotia.ca), this newsletter, at our information sessions and through our Guysborough office.

2. Can you provide more information on the benthic impacts – i.e. what happens to all the waste from the fish and what does it do? There was a lot of concern – naturally so – for the condition of the sea floor underneath our farms. A popular question was around where does the fish waste go, and how do we either manage for that accumulation or ensure the bottom isn’t being harmed. First, we want to provide some context in regards to how much waste we are dealing with from a farm site, the nature of the waste and the impacts on the seafloor. We also want to state that in all of the calculations and examples used, we are taking very conservative averages. Salmon are amazingly efficient at converting food into energy – one of the many reasons they are ideal for farming. Right now, at our farms in BC, we are seeing that on average, 1.2 kilograms of food translates into one kilogram of fish growth. This excellent conversion rate means that very little waste is created by our fish. Of the waste produced by our fish, about 85 per cent (85%) is dissolved and is expelled through the fish’s gills and body. This is similar to urine in mammals and consists of salt, phosphorous, ammonia, urea and some organics. Since fish urine is a natural component in the marine ecosystem, research has shown that it provides benefits like providing phosphorous which helps marine plants. The remaining 15 per cent (15%) of waste is solid and is mainly comprised of salt, undigested nutrients and fish waste. Of that 15 per cent (15%) of solid waste, about five per cent (5%) of that solid waste is in form of nitrogen.

Let’s talk nitrogen for a second An important note on nitrogen is that although it is actually a nutrient, it can have an affect on the local environment by providing additional nutrients. Overall, the solid waste would be limited to the area below the farm, and follows a very predictable footprint and is typically not detectable 100 metres from the farm systems edge. It is also key to note that farms are sited above low value habitat areas. We are regulated in this regard, and also want to have as small an impact as possible, so location and the

Page 6: Hello Nova Scotia! · work. We have also started reaching out and listening to local fishermen associations and groups, local governments, local community leaders and the Mi’kmaq

www.hellonovascotia.ca Page 6 of 11

Hello Nova Scotia!

Cermaq Canada is thinking about expanding its salmon farming industry into Nova Scotia and wants to hear from you. August 2019 Update Cermaq Canada is considering expanding our salmon farming operations into Nova Scotia and we want to hear from you. Spring 2019

existing ocean floor within a region are key components when make farm site location decisions. And last point, there is considerably less nitrogen in solid waste from our fish than in other species, like humans. There is also less bacteria and potentially harmful pathogens such as E.coli than traditional farmed protein sources and humans.

Back to the solid waste When we think in terms of an amount of feces per farm site, we can start to break it down even further. We initially stock an average 800,000 fish per farm in our 40 hectare farms. We know that we have an average mortality rate per farm of about 10 per cent (10%), and that our feed conversion rate is about 1.2 kg of food to grow one kg of fish. Knowing all of these averages, we can figure out the average amount of solid waste from our farms. Just a note on averages – they are just that, an average. Small fish have less of an impact than large fish. If you look at the impact across a 20-month ocean lifecycle, the impact will be less at the beginning, and slowly increase across the 20 –month lifecycle as the fish grow in size.

Time for some Cermaq math We understand that when someone says there are 800,000 fish – that alone is hard to imagine, let alone how much waste they are creating. Luckily, we have some pretty smart salmon experts here who helped to break it down into an easy to visualize and understand manner. Alright, now let’s begin! 800,000 5 kg fish stocked 3,600,000 kg of fish - Average mortality of 10% X Feed conversion rate of 1.2 to achieve = 680,000 fish@5kg = 3,600,000 kg fish = 4,320,000 kg of feed used over 20 months 15 per cent (15%) of feed ends up as waste X 4,320,000 kg of feed

648,000 kg of waste ÷ 20 month/lifecycle

= 648,000 kg of total waste/farm/20 month cycle =32,400 kg solid waste/month 32,400 kg solid waste/cycle 810 kg of waste/month/hectare ÷ 40 hectare farm size ÷ 30 days/month

= 810 kg solid waste per hectare/month = 27 kg of solid waste per/hectare/day To put that number into perspective – one full-grown, adult cow releases - on average - about 30 kg of solid waste (manure) per day. It is also common practice to have more than one cow per hectare of farmland. How big is one hectare? A hectare is 100 metres by 100 metres, or about the same length as a typical soccer field, but about 50 per cent (50%) wider.

How many fish approximately are within a hectare space at a farm? Using an average weight per fish of five kg, on a 40-hectare farm, we would expect about 17,000 fish on average/hectare. Isn’t that crowded? It might seem at first glance, but we also have depth to consider. We aren’t looking at just a flat surface as our nets go down by about 14 metres. Our fish health team works to ensure our fish are stocked at optimal densities, which they have

found to be at about two per cent (2%) of the total pen volume. The reason the density is low is to help with overall health and lowered stress levels. Fish need room to naturally school and swim. Overcrowding can lead to stress, which can be fatal for our fish.

Page 7: Hello Nova Scotia! · work. We have also started reaching out and listening to local fishermen associations and groups, local governments, local community leaders and the Mi’kmaq

www.hellonovascotia.ca Page 7 of 11

Hello Nova Scotia!

Cermaq Canada is thinking about expanding its salmon farming industry into Nova Scotia and wants to hear from you. August 2019 Update Cermaq Canada is considering expanding our salmon farming operations into Nova Scotia and we want to hear from you. Spring 2019

How do you plan for, or mitigate for the accumulation? There is a predictable footprint below a farm where we know we can expect to see solid waste. The key is understanding how the currents will help to move oxygenated water over the ocean floor – introducing oxygen to the area which helps to speed decomposition. We can also predict the size and path of the waste based on modeling current speeds and direction. The ideal farm site would have adequate depth, current speed, water oxygen and a diverse ocean floor ecosystem. Another tool we use is the fallowing of our sites. Before we stock any farm site, we test to ensure the ocean floor is healthy and free from contaminants. Once stocked, we continue to sample and monitor the benthic layer (the top layer of the ocean floor) to ensure it is receiving oxygen and that the ecosystem is being maintained. Once we harvest our fish, we allow the farm site to rest, unpopulated for a period of weeks to months – allowing the ocean floor and the benthic layer time to regenerate.

3. We would like to see research on the potential impacts of salmon farming on all commercial fisheries – including lobster, scallops and ground fish. We are starting to scope out what a potential partnership, or third-party independent study could look like. We have been connected with some amazing local researchers and universities. We are also working with a couple of the commercial fishing associations to ensure that any potential studies would be in line with the type of data that the membership are looking for. Some of the areas to study suggested during the meetings are ways to look at the area – bay or inlet – as a whole and determine how any changes made in one area, could potentially affect the larger water body. We have also started talking with a group of researchers based out of Tasmania who specialize in looking at the commercial, social and economic impacts from aquaculture, on commercial fishing and communities. This team provides a comprehensive process to examine what communities and the commercial fishing industry could look like, if we were to proceed on an agreed basis.

August 2019 - what are we planning in the coming month? August is a slow month for us as we have employees and stakeholders enjoying some well-earned vacation time with friends and family, but we will be out and about in September meeting with communities, local fishermen associations, governments and other interested stakeholders. We will also continue forward with our engagement with the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia through the established Aquaculture Advisory Committee, and will continue to engage and meet with them through this separate but parallel engagement process. If you know of a community event looking for sponsorship, or are a member of a group hosting an event, please let us know and we would be happy to discuss how we could participate in and support. Call Amy at 250 202 7680, or email her at [email protected].

Meeting with the public In September, we will be hosting a series of public meetings and information sessions in the areas where we have identified our potential Options to Lease. We met with commercial fishermen first as we know how iconic and important the Nova Scotia commercial fishing industry is to the province, the culture and the economy. We are happy to be talking with them and exploring their industry, their operations and their concerns. We stand by our initial

Page 8: Hello Nova Scotia! · work. We have also started reaching out and listening to local fishermen associations and groups, local governments, local community leaders and the Mi’kmaq

www.hellonovascotia.ca Page 8 of 11

Hello Nova Scotia!

Cermaq Canada is thinking about expanding its salmon farming industry into Nova Scotia and wants to hear from you. August 2019 Update Cermaq Canada is considering expanding our salmon farming operations into Nova Scotia and we want to hear from you. Spring 2019

statement in that if we can’t find a way to add value, and if it is determined that we will negatively impact the commercial fishing industry, then we won’t proceed. We will be hosting our community meetings the last two weeks of September – from the 16th to the 27th. We will visit communities in the Municipality District of Guysborough such as Canso and Guysborough, and the Municipality of the County of Richmond. We also will be hosting meetings in the Municipality of Clare, the Municipality of the District of Digby, Sandy Cove, Meteghan, Halifax and potentially other communities as we start to host the meetings and determine where the potential impacts could lay. We are also going to be establishing Community Advisory Committees in the Digby area, the Guysborough region and the Richmond area. We are seeking to have representation from all sectors and interest groups, such as residents, business owners, local government, landowners and fishermen. These advisory committees will be in addition to the in-progress Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia Aquaculture Advisory Committee. Information collected and shared through these committees will be part of our formal engagement process and included as part of our engagement record. To put your name forward, or for more information, please call or email Amy at 250 202 7680, or [email protected].

Grab the popcorn – we have some fun videos to share. If you haven’t been to our website lately – www.HelloNovaScotia.ca - please head over to take a look as we have some exciting changes including the addition of French translation and videos. We are excited to share our first video was produced by Stevens Solutions and Design – an innovative Nova Scotian company. The video is a 3D animation and shows a 3D version of what – if approved – our operations could look like. The video is just over three minutes, but provides a lot of great information and shows scale, requirements and gives a realistic visual sense of our operations. We have also loaded some content created by our industry association – the BC Salmon Farmers Association - and many feature our employees. Like Terra, our vet who is born and raised in Truro. Be sure to visit, watch a few videos, and let us know what you think.

What we have heard and learned so far. We continue to receive lots of great questions and feedback though our website, email ([email protected]) and our Facebook page. We have received questions regarding the sustainability of the industry, solid waste and the impact on the ocean floor, pesticide use, the ability of aquaculture and existing Nova Scotia fisheries to work alongside each other, and our day-to-day practices. We will continue to use our social media and our website to answer your questions – but if you have a question that you have not seen answered, we want to hear from you. Please reach out and we will make sure it is added to the website and shared through this newsletter. Email [email protected], or call Amy Jonsson at 1-250-202-7680 (collect calls will be accepted).

Updated Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) When will you be launching public engagement? We will be launching engagement in mid-September and plan to visit with as many communities, groups, governments and associations in the three regions of interest (Digby, Guysborough and Richmond) as possible.

Page 9: Hello Nova Scotia! · work. We have also started reaching out and listening to local fishermen associations and groups, local governments, local community leaders and the Mi’kmaq

www.hellonovascotia.ca Page 9 of 11

Hello Nova Scotia!

Cermaq Canada is thinking about expanding its salmon farming industry into Nova Scotia and wants to hear from you. August 2019 Update Cermaq Canada is considering expanding our salmon farming operations into Nova Scotia and we want to hear from you. Spring 2019

We will be looking to host two sessions per community, one in the afternoon, followed by an evening session, to ensure we are available to speak with as many individuals as possible. We will also continue to meet with commercials fishing associations, communities, governments and special interest groups. We will use the same meeting format at all of our sessions. The first hour will be informal, with various information stations set up around the room, which guests can wonder freely and ask any question you may have. We will be bringing our senior leadership team and subject matter experts so that we can provide all of the information you may need. The second hour will be more of a traditional town hall with a short (no more than 15 minutes – we promise) presentation followed by open questions and answers. At the end of the meeting, Cermaq staff will stay until all questions have been answered. If you are a member of a group or associations and would like to invite us to come and present, please give Amy a call at 250 202 7680, or email her at [email protected].

What about community advisory committees? You bet. We are looking to establish a Community Advisory Committees in the Digby area, the Guysborough region and the Richmond area. We will be working to have representation from all sectors and interest groups, such as residents, business owners, local government, landowners and fishermen. These advisory committees will compliment the proposed Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia Aquaculture Advisory Committee. Information collected and shared through these committees will be part of our formal engagement process and included as part of our engagement record. To put your name forward, or for more information, please call or email Amy at 250 202 7680, or [email protected]. We hope to advertise for members later in August and have the first meetings in October.

Your Option to Lease is set to expire in October. Will you have enough information at that point to proceed with an application? We know that in order to fully engage with Nova Scotians, fishermen, communities, government and the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia – and get all of the required data to make a decision – we will need more time. To that end, we have applied for a six-month extension of our Options to Lease, which would mean that instead of expiring in late October, they would now expire in late March, 2020. This allows us some additional time to set up information meetings, talk with groups, fishermen, residents, Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia members and elected officials and really get an understanding of priorities, concerns, and the values of these regions. It also allows us to collect another set of winter data, so that when we do make a decision, we have a full picture of the conditions and potential opportunities and concerns for sites.

How do I apply for the new Sustainability Development Coordinator role in Guysborough? If you are interested or want more information, you can read the full job description on our website – www.HelloNovaScotia.ca and below. We are using a local recruiting agency to collect the applications, so if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our local recruiter Cynthia McCutcheon at [email protected]. If you want to apply, please email your resume to Cynthia at the same email - [email protected] and note in the subject line that you are applying for Cermaq Sustainability Development Coordinator role. We are excited to fill the position and look forward to starting interviews as soon as possible. Please note that only those candidates who meet the criteria will be contacted.

Page 10: Hello Nova Scotia! · work. We have also started reaching out and listening to local fishermen associations and groups, local governments, local community leaders and the Mi’kmaq

www.hellonovascotia.ca Page 10 of 11

Hello Nova Scotia!

Cermaq Canada is thinking about expanding its salmon farming industry into Nova Scotia and wants to hear from you. August 2019 Update Cermaq Canada is considering expanding our salmon farming operations into Nova Scotia and we want to hear from you. Spring 2019

Guysborough Job Description and Posting

in partnership with

is seeking a Sustainability Development Co-ordinator for an exciting new Atlantic Initiative in the Salmon Industry

Sustainability Development Co-ordinator

The Sustainability Development Co-ordinator advances the vision and values of Cermaq Canada by supporting the Sustainability Development Director – East Coast with building successful relationships with rights holders, community, fishermen, associations, government and all relevant stakeholders. This will be a contract position to start with the potential to become a permanent role. The Role: Cermaq Canada is seeking a well-rounded professional with exceptional communication skills, relationship and community development skills coupled with a strong science background. The successful candidate will be an integral team member based in Guysborough, Nova Scotia. There will be a variety of responsibilities involved in this role including the following: Sustainability Support:

Support the Sustainability Development Director – East Coast with ongoing initiatives in project management

Meet with individuals, fishermen, associations and special interest groups to learn their perspectives as well as inform them about current sustainable aquaculture practices

Relate scientific information to a broad audience in a manner that is easily understood

Research and prepare presentations for the Sustainability Development Director – East Coast

Organize, facilitate and chair meetings with associations throughout Nova Scotia

Build successful collaborations with scientists, professional contractors and various vendors to ensure strong engagement for the development of the business

Represent Cermaq Canada at local events, association meetings, etc to share the key messages about the company and sustainable aquaculture with materials tailored for local needs

Contribute to individual and group engagement plans for Cermaq Canada Operational Leadership:

Describe the operational excellence in all areas of our production to meet or exceed our standards

Translate technical and operational information into common language that is easily understood and accessible

Create transparency of information that builds trust and long-term relationships with associations and communities throughout Nova Scotia

Deliver on Cermaq’s key narratives and support the company’s engagement goals

Using a shared value model seek opportunities for mutual benefit of Cermaq and other parties

Describe the audit programs and continual improvement processes that provide Cermaq with world class certifications

Work closely with the west coast time, at times using remote communication technology in a timely manner

Customer Leadership:

With an understanding of the production cycle, be able to describe the production of premium quality fish from egg to plate that is aimed at exceeding customer satisfaction

Deliver a proactive level of service that builds trust to meet internal and external party needs with an attention to detail, quality of information and timelines met

Support the design of communication tools and pathways that improves transparency and access to information

Page 11: Hello Nova Scotia! · work. We have also started reaching out and listening to local fishermen associations and groups, local governments, local community leaders and the Mi’kmaq

www.hellonovascotia.ca Page 11 of 11

Hello Nova Scotia!

Cermaq Canada is thinking about expanding its salmon farming industry into Nova Scotia and wants to hear from you. August 2019 Update Cermaq Canada is considering expanding our salmon farming operations into Nova Scotia and we want to hear from you. Spring 2019

People Leadership:

Leads self and others to put health and safety frequently above established safety standards Leading self with integrity in their interactions with people in the community and associations

Leading self by compassionately conducting all interactions with a balance needed to ensure quality relationships are built and maintained

Advocating for the communities to ensure their voice is heard, respected while ensuring Cermaq remains accessible and transparent

Communicate with a high regard for confidentiality towards sensitive information

Ensure our shared work is material and meaningful

Lead using values-based leadership in their interactions with internal and external parties

Lead self to set an example in the use of our core values and leadership principles Opportunity Requirements: Education, Experience and Skills

Experience with community consultation and engagement that has proven results

Prior communications experience demonstrating a high level of social intelligence in group settings

Project Management skills complimented by strong organizational skills

Excellent presentation, verbal and written communication skills

Experience relating scientific data and information to a broader audience, aquaculture or salmon fish farming experience preferred

Proficient in Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint

Self-motivated to meet timelines and goals with minimal supervision

Available for evening and weekend work for community engagement

Adaptability and flexibility including ability to manage deadline pressure, ambiguity and change

Some travel required within Nova Scotia Cermaq Canada is an equal opportunities employer who provides a workplace that is free of discrimination. Cermaq Canada has a progressive view of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. Although wholly committed to hire the best candidate available, we strongly encourage applications from Indigenous peoples for this role. To apply, please email your resume to Cynthia McCutcheon at [email protected]. Please note that only those candidates who meet the criteria will be contacted. Watch for information about meeting dates and locations as well as other planned events in local newspapers, on our engagement website at www.hellonovascotia.ca, our social media and through online community calendars. You can also sign up for email notifications, or send questions directly to us at [email protected]. In the meantime, if you want to talk with someone, please contact Amy Jonsson who works on our Environment and Sustainable Development team at 1-250-202-7680 between 8:00 a.m. PST and 5:00 p.m. PST, or email her at [email protected]. Collect calls are accepted.