Sectors
Aquaculture
The Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture is responsible for aquaculture in the province. Approved aquaculture sites within the Municipality may be viewed at www.gov.ns.ca/fish/aquaculture/aquamap. The provincial website is www.gov.ns.ca/fish/aquaculture/home.
Guysborough County Sustainable Aquaculture Initiative
The Guysborough County Sustainable Aquaculture Initiative (GCSAI) was started in 2002 to promote aquaculture development in Guysborough County in a sustainable and community friendly way. The ultimate product of the initiative was the GCSAI Tool, a GIS based program that will help select the more favourable areas of a body of water for aquaculture. Using the tool, the Guysborough County Regional Development Authority (GCRDA) can assist clients through the process of selecting a body of water and species of aquaculture and then interpreting the results.
Presently, the tool has water quality data for 18 harbours, although more can be added upon request. It can compare and contrast the properties of the water with those of the requirements of 6 different species commonly farmed in Nova Scotia. Contact the GCRDA (533-3731) for assistance with aquaculture site selection and assistance with the application for an aquaculture lease. The site will have to undergo an environmental review and a public consultation. Guysborough County’s Regional Aquaculture Development Advisory Committee (RADACs) will review the application. See www.gov.ns.ca/fish/aquaculture/radac/index for roles and responsibilities of RADAC.
Wind Energy
The Municipality of the District of Guysborough has the second best wind resource in the province. A wind atlas for the province may be accessed at www.nswindatlas.ca.
Several companies are currently testing the wind régime within the District. Renewable Energy Services (www.resl.ca) and InvEnergy (www.invenergyllc.com/canada) have test towers scattered throughout the Municipality. Under current regulations, only Municipal Utilities and Nova Scotia Power are able to purchase wind power.
The Meaghers Hill Second Generation Waste Management Facility was tested several years ago and the results of the test indicated that it would be a good site for wind power generation. Municipal regulations regarding wind turbines may be found by reviewing land-use plans for the various districts within the Municipality.
Mineral
The Municipality has a rich history of mining. Some of the richest gold mines in the province were at Hurricane Pt., Upper Seal Harbour and the vicinity of Goldboro. Mineral exploration activity varies from year to year.
The Registry of Mineral and Petroleum Rights of the Department of Natural Resources, issues Mineral Exploration licenses within the province (www.gov.ns.ca/natr/meb/one/rmt-home). An up to date map on the licenses issued within the Municipality may be downloaded and reviewed from www.gov.ns.ca/natr/meb/download/dp046dds.
Orex holds 37 contiguous claims (600 acres) in the Goldboro area. An exploration program was initiated in February 2004 - http://www.orexexploration.ca/projects. To date, Orex has spent over $18.9 million in exploration work on this gold bearing property.
Forestry
Approximately 70% of the 400,840 hectares of land, which comprise Guysborough County, is forested. A little more than half of the timber produced in the County is softwood, while the remainder is mixed wood and hardwood.
There are about 250 - 300 full-time forestry-related jobs in the area, such as harvesting, trucking, road building, and silvaculture work. Guysborough supplies about 30% of the wood received by Nova Scotia's pulp and paper mills, or around 625,000 cubic meters per year.
In total, the Northeastern region of Nova Scotia produces roughly 50% of the province's pulpwood, 41% of its lumber, and 74% of its whole tree chips.
Nova Forest Alliance
New Page Port Hawkesbury - Forest Advisory Committee
NS Dept. of Natural Resources - Forestry Homepage
NS Dept. of Natural Resources - 2008 Registry of Buyers Annual Report
Association for Sustainable Forestry
Christmas Trees
Christmas Tree Farms are a common sight while driving through Guysborough County. We boast ideal growing conditions and generations of acquired skills. The Christmas Tree business provides income for a multitude of people as Tree Farms require year-round attention. This includes shearing during the hottest summer months, planting, fertilizing, cutting, grading, dragging, bailing and loading the trees on transport trucks. There are 2,500 small to large Christmas tree growers in Nova Scotia harvesting 1.5 to 2 million christmas trees annually, employing 400 full time and 2,000 part time employees. Eighty percent of the trees harvested are exported to the United States. Annual sales are around $300,000,000 providing a healthy income for many locals, and top quality christmas trees to buyers.
Northeastern Christmas Tree Association
Province of NS - Select Real Nova Scotia Christmas Trees
Christmas Tree Council of Nova Scotia
Ports
Please refer to the Projects page on this website for information on Melford International Terminals Inc.
Energy
Please refer to the Projects page on this website for information on various energy projects within the Municipality of the District of Guysborough.
Offshore Technology Association of Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia Department of Energy
Canada - Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board
Keltic Petrochemicals
EnCana Corporation
Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline
Imperial Oil
Marathon Oil Corporation
Nova Scotia Power Inc.