A significant investment in the aquaculture industry in southwestern New Brunswick could mean dozens of new high-paying jobs. The federal and provincial governments announced $6.6 million for the Huntsman Marine Science Centre in St. Andrews for a pair of projects.
Ottawa, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, is contributing about $5 million. The provincial government will come up with most of the rest of the money. The Huntsman Centre and Northern Harvest Sea Farms are also investing in the projects.
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One of the projects will see the amount of salt water pumped into the centre for various research projects tripled, which officials hope will attract more research.
“We have potential clients that we are waiting to have the asset in place to entice to come and increase our business here at the Huntsman,” said Science Centre chairman Fraser Walsh.
It’s hoped business will double over the next four years and that more than 20 new jobs are created. Currently, more than 45 people work at the centre.
The other project involves new programs that aim to increase fish health and disease resistance.
“We’re in a global industry so these kind of programs are being done and supported significantly by governments in countries like Norway, Scotland and Chile, so we have to do it to keep up,” said Larry Ingalls, president of Northern Harvest Sea Farms in St. George.
The Huntsman Marine Science Centre is hoping to see the business growth over the next four years.
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