Province Moving Fisheries Headquarters to Digby-Clementsport Area

FISHERIES/AQUACULTURE–Province Moving Fisheries Headquarters to Digby-Clementsport Area

The province is relocating its fisheries department headquarters from Halifax to the Digby-Clementsport area in a move that brings good jobs to rural Nova Scotia.

The province announced today, April 30, that it will move 22 head office positions to the Digby-Clementsport area by the end of 2012. It will also move its aquaculture division, with 12 positions, to Shelburne County by the end of year.

"This initiative will see the department's headquarters and its aquaculture division relocate to two of the province's major fish harvesting, processing and aquaculture regions," said Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Sterling Belliveau. "It makes sense that a department whose purpose is to support fisheries and aquaculture be based in rural Nova Scotia where it can bring good jobs to grow the economy."

"Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture personnel will now be located in areas where we have operations," said Jean-Paul Deveau, president of Acadian Seaplants Limited. "This will allow timely and more efficient access to government personnel."

"This move makes sense for both the provincial government and for the communities that will now benefit from good jobs and valuable programs," said Jimmy MacAlpine, president of the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities . "I applaud the provincial government for moving Fisheries and Aquaculture to the Digby-Clementsport area and Shelburne County."

The Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture has 76 staff in 14 communities around the province.

This is one of three moves announced today by the province.