The Town of St. Alban's The Aquaculture Industry In 1987, 47,000 smolt were tried as an experiment in the Bay D'Espoir estuary. In 1997, there were 1.5 million salmon and 4.5 million Steelhead swimming. Approximately 100 workers are currently employed in salmonid production. There are now six farms and at least another three expected to come on stream this year. The local water body for aquaculture development is approximately four times that of the Bay of Fundy, but knowledge of the full sustainable potential remains undetermined. The Newfoundland Salmonid Growers Association (NSGA) is currently studying the carrying capacity which will provide an accurate measure of the room for expansion in the Bay D'Espoir estuary. Source: Coast of Bays Corporation, Economic Zone 13, Strategic Economic Plan, June 1997