Scotian Halibut

Scotian Halibut Limited is a private Nova Scotia Company, which was incorporated in April 1997 and commenced operations in October 1998. The joint venture business is the culmination of four years of work by Nova Scotian and Icelandic business interests to develop world-class aquaculture facilities in Southwest Nova Scotia to produce Atlantic halibut juveniles and Atlantic halibut product for the North American market.

From 1998 to 2001 Scotian Halibut imported 150,000 halibut juveniles from Iceland to accelerate the development of its grow-out facility. Marketing of fish from this facility began in the fall of 2001. The hatchery was commissioned in late December 2000.

Past annual production is summarized in the chart below:
Year No. Halibut Juveniles Produced
2001 50000
2002 110000
2003 75000
2004 150,000 (+300000 cod)
Scotian Halibut Limited is presently one of the largest producers of halibut juveniles internationally. There are currently no other commercial producers of Atlantic halibut juveniles in North America. Internationally, the main producer of halibut juveniles is FISKEY, Scotian Halibut Limited's Icelandic partner, at an annual production of approximately 500 000 juveniles. Several hatcheries also exist in Norway.

Recent modifications to Scotian Halibut's hatchery allow the production of other marine fish species. This year (2004), Scotian Halibut Limited produced 300 000 cod juveniles in addition to its regular halibut production.

Scotian Halibut Limited is commercially focused and its goal is to produce halibut juveniles and market size fish as quickly as possible and develop a leading position in the industry. Its development strategy supports that goal by allowing for the concurrent development of in-house facilities as well as the development of independent grow-out operations.

The Company's current business address is:
25 Kenny Street, P.O. Box 119
Clark's Harbour, N.S. B0W 1P0
Tel: (902) 745-0180 / Fax: (902) 745-0181

Innovation Background

Scotian Halibut is a world scale aquaculture business, based on proven technology resulting from years of research in Iceland and Canada. The management and ownership team is considered to be one of the most experienced aquaculture teams in Canada.

SHL has developed or been integral in developing enabling technologies in numerous areas including:

  1. Halibut broodstock development
  2. Halibut disease research
  3. Halibut nutrition
  4. Live feed production
  5. Marine fish hatchery mechanical applications

Key Personnel

Brian Blanchard
Brian Blanchard is the General Manager of Scotian Halibut Limited Mr. Blanchard received his B. Sc. from Saint Francis Xavier University in 1988 and a Diploma in Aquaculture Technology in 1989. He later received a M. Sc. degree with distinction from the University of Hull International Fisheries Institute in 1993. He has worked as an aquaculture instructor at the Marine Institute of Newfoundland and Labrador, was chief technologist and project manager for the Atlantic cod hatchery at Sea Forest Plantation Co. Ltd. In 1996 he became the Finfish Technical Officer for the National Research Council of Canada Institute for Marine Biosciences where he was responsible for development of a multi-species finfish research hatchery at the IMB Sandy Cove Aquaculture Facility. He joined Scotian Halibut Limited in 1999.
Mr. Blanchard is widely recognised in the aquaculture community as being one of Canada's leading scientists in the field of cold water marine finfish species. He has worked extensively on Atlantic cod, Atlantic halibut and haddock in both hatchery and grow-out operations. He has also lectured widely on the commercial aspects of marine finfish development.
Hugh M. Snow
Hugh Snow is the Director of Finance for Scotian Halibut Limited
Mr. Snow has over 20 years experience as a consultant on business development, business finance, operations and management issues. He has worked extensively throughout the Atlantic Region and in Ontario, with entrepreneurs, investors, government agencies, financial institutions and businesses in many industry segments.
He is a professional engineer and an accountant with a background in business finance and management. Prior to working as a consultant he worked in corporate lending with the Federal Business Development Bank and Nova Scotia's Industrial Estates Limited; and in senior management with Clearwater Lobsters Limited.
Melissa Rommens
Melissa Rommens is the Research Coordinator for Scotian Halibut.
Ms. Rommens has over 9 years experience in halibut broodstock development. She joined Scotian Halibut Ltd. in 1998 and has been responsible for managing the construction and operation of the hatchery in Clarks Harbour, including the collection and conditioning of their broodstock. Ms. Rommens has a strong background in research and development activities as well as management of aquaculture operations. Ms. Rommens coordinates the development of the research activities and fish selection and holding activities.
Shelly Leblanc
Shelly Leblanc is the Hatchery Manager.
Ms. Leblanc has over 7 years experience in fish husbandry, both of freshwater and marine species. She has a B. Sc. In Aquaculture from the Nova Scotia Agriculture College and a B. A. in Fine Arts. She has further specialized in Fish Health monitoring and surveillance. She has a focus on larval production and recently took over management of the Clark's Harbour Facility in 2005. Ms. Leblanc is assigned to the Pleurogene project and is responsible for the generation of sampling progeny for the project.