June 14, 2021 – Millbrook First Nation, N.S. – The Millbrook First Nation announced today that it received approval from the Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture (NSDFA) for the assignment of its Aquaculture Licence of a land-based fish hatchery in Millbrook to Kelly Cove Salmon Ltd., the Atlantic Canadian salmon farming division of family-owned Cooke Aquaculture Inc.

“Millbrook First Nation is looking to the future to ensure our people stay connected to local seafood through innovative ways. Farming Atlantic salmon through best practices in association with Cooke Aquaculture as a world leading company provides us with a sustainable source of nutritious salmon and employment opportunities,” said Millbrook First Nation Chief Bob Gloade. “We appreciate that Cooke is growing responsibility and thoughtfully in Nova Scotia.”

The province posted its decision on June 14, 2021, following an administrative review process by multiple provincial and federal regulatory authorities and a 30-day public comment period.

“We have formed a productive relationship with the Millbrook First Nation to work together to grow Atlantic salmon smolt at their former Artic Charr land-based facility located in the community of Millbrook,” said Glenn Cooke, CEO of Cooke Aquaculture Inc. “Our Kelly Cove Salmon Ltd. team and contractors from Millbrook First Nation have spent six months making preparations, and we are thrilled to be contributing to the community’s economic development.”

Millbrook First Nation is a Mi’kmaq community located in Truro, Nova Scotia. The First Nation Council established an Artic Charr farming operation in 2002, but have decided to transition to farming Atlantic salmon with Cooke to meet market needs. The Millbrook facility includes a grow-out building, a filtration building, bio filter/degassing building, a hatchery building, and a greenhouse. The facility employs five people and engages outside suppliers on a contract basis.

The hatchery and main facility use a recirculation aquaculture system (RAS) engineered to have capacity to grow 450,000 salmon smolt for Cooke’s twelve marine aquaculture sites along Nova Scotia’s Southern and Western shores. This type of hybrid salmon farming model, which involves, a combination of land and marine-based systems, is recognized globally as a sustainable best marine farming practice to support fish health and to produce top quality fish for local grocery stores, restaurants, and the hospitality and tourism sector.

For more information, visit www.millbrookband.com or www.cookeseafood.com.

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Contacts:
James Stevens
Economic Development Officer
Millbrook First Nation
1-902-897-9199 Ext. 120 office
1-902-890-1840 mobile
james.stevens@eastlink.ca

Joel Richardson
Vice President, Public Relations
Cooke Aquaculture Inc. / For Kelly Cove Salmon Ltd.
1-506-694-4939 office
1-506-721-1093 mobile
joel.richardson@cookeaqua.com

PDF of release: Millbrook First Nation hatchery licence approved for Kelly Cove Salmon Ltd. June 14 2021