Letter of Support for NAIA’s Save South Coast Jobs Campaign
Posted on
June 25, 2025
To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing in strong support of the Newfoundland and Labrador Aquaculture Industry Association’s (NAIA) campaign to protect the future of aquaculture on the province’s South Coast. The proposed National Marine Conservation Area (NMCA), while well-intentioned, poses a significant threat to a vital industry that has long sustained our coastal communities.
Aquaculture in Newfoundland and Labrador is not a recent development – it is a modern evolution of our centuries-old relationship with the sea. Since the 1980s, the aquaculture industry has grown into a cornerstone of the provincial economy, producing high-quality Atlantic salmon, steelhead trout, and blue mussels. Today, it contributes over $280 million annually to the provincial GDP and supports more than 2,000 direct and indirect jobs, many of which are located in rural and remote communities.
These are not just jobs – they are careers in marine biology, engineering, logistics, processing, and environmental science. Over 90% of aquaculture jobs are full-time, offering competitive wages, benefits, and opportunities for advancement. The economic spinoff extends to local suppliers, transportation services, and small businesses that rely on the steady income aquaculture brings to their regions.
Blocking access to key marine areas through the NMCA would not only jeopardize these livelihoods but also undermine a sector that is helping to meet global food demand in a sustainable way. With wild fish stocks under pressure and seafood consumption on the rise, aquaculture offers a responsible solution that aligns with both environmental and economic goals.
I urge the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to stand with its coastal communities and reject the proposed NMCA in its current form. Let us find a balanced path forward – one that protects our environment without sacrificing the people and industries that depend on it.
Sincerely,
Mayor Barry Manuel (on behalf of all council and residents)
Town of Grand Falls-Windsor, NL
Media Contact:
Robyn Hannaford
Communications Officer, Town of Grand Falls-Windsor
709-489-0173 | 709-689-3682
communications@townofgfw.com