Here in Nova Scotia, aquaculture was first practiced by the local First Nations communities such as the Mi’kmaq, who transferred fish species from one stream or pond to another in order to promote larger population sizes. As the popularity of aquaculture developed from a local source of food into a profitable source of revenue for the Province, the need for an industry association grew.
The Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia (AANS) was established in 1977 to act as the primary voice for the aquaculture industry in the province.
The main goals of the AANS are to support and unify the efforts of industry and stakeholders to create a thriving, world-class, sustainable, and welcomed aquaculture industry in Nova Scotia. Since 2010, aquaculture has contributed to over 40% of the world’s seafood supply, jumping miraculously from what it contributed in 1980, where 9% of all consumed seafood was farmed. With the demand for seafood increasing rapidly, it is not a shock to hear that this industry is the fastest-growing food-production sector, as it has continued to increase by an average of 8.8% each year for the past 30 years.
Today, the AANS represents more than 150 members, who make up more than 95% of all aquaculture operations in Nova Scotia. This includes finfish (salmon, trout and striped bass), shellfish (oysters, mussels, clams, quahogs and scallops), Irish Moss, and an emerging sea plant sector. The industry directly supports close to 900 jobs and contributes more than 90 million dollars to the provincial economy.
Mission
To support the production of quality farmed seafood in the cool, clear waters of Nova Scotia, creating wealth based on a renewable resource.
