People who farm fish for a living are in the final day of their conference and trade show in St. John’s today.

Yesterday, the Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association heard from many speakers, including a university professor in Saskatchewan who says fish farming is critical for places such as the south coast of Newfoundland.

Aquaculture companies say a proposed Marine Conservation Area in waters off the south coast would eat into a lot of jobs, not only in fish farming but other industries which depend on the sea.

Ken Coates, says they are all for conservation, but it has to be a reasonable discussion with people and coastal communities taken into account.

“What are they coming after next?” asks Coates, “we’ve seen problems in British Columbia’s forestry, we’re seeing criticisms

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