HALIFAX – The Nova Scotia government says extreme cold weather is to blame for the deaths of salmon, mackerel and trout at three aquaculture sites in the province.
The province says it’s still not known how many fish have died, but the dead fish have been removed and disposed of.
The government says in two cases, net pens were damaged and dead fish were released, but the nets have since been repaired and there is no evidence that live fish escaped.
The province has said coastal waters typically remain above freezing during the winter, but every five to seven years cold air can cause shallow ocean water to drop below -0.7 C, the temperature at which fish blood freezes.
Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Keith Colwell says the rare act of nature is unfortunate and the department will continue to monitor the situation.
The sites, operated by New Brunswick’s Cooke Aquaculture, are at Shelburne Harbour, Jordan Bay and Port Wade.
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