12.4. The Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture & Fisheries and The Nova Scotia Department of Environment & Labour

These two provincial government departments also participate in fish habitat enhancement. The Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture & Fisheries is involved in:

- Hatchery rearing of trout

- The stocking of lakes

- Egg implantation

- Streamside incubators

- Scientific research and management

- Public education and awareness about habitats and populations

The Department of Environment & Labour is mainly involved in ensuring the protection of streams.

Hatcheries
The Province has administered a hatchery program since 1982, when a federal-provincial agreement delegated responsibility for the production and distribution of trout to Nova Scotia. Hatcheries are used on a limited basis to supplement stocks where spawning has been reduced due to loss of good spawning habitat and not yet restored. They are also used to stock streams and lakes that have been over-fished and for "put and take" fisheries. Some of the fish produced in hatcheries are sold to the commercial aquaculture industry.

Atlantic salmon hatcheries help to support a fish species that is under pressure due to acid rain, low survival at sea, and other habitat pressures. These hatcheries maintain and augment stocks to counter-act over fishing, poaching, or low productivity habitats. Currently the majority of the salmon hatchery capacity is directed toward maintaining the Inner Bay of Fundy (IBoF) Atlantic Salmon river's gene pool. The populations of these salmon are on the verge of extinction due to unknown causes resulting in low returns from the oceans.

Hatcheries have not traditionally been used to bypass the at sea component of the life cycle, but it is being done in this case through a innovative program in the DFO Biodiversity centers. It is critical that his program continue to keep the diversity in the salmon stocks and maintain the unique genetic population of as many watersheds as possible until a solution to the problems is found and implemented.

The Department of Environment and Labour is responsible for delivering effective and efficient regulatory management for the protection of our environment and the health and safety of Nova Scotians. Any persons or persons who wish to use or alter a watercourse or a water resource or any natural body of water require an approval administered by this department. This includes restoration and enhancement projects.