The Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia (AANS) was established in 1977 to act as the primary voice for the aquaculture industry in the province. Aquaculture is a significant and essential economic driver that supports the livelihoods of many rural, coastal, and Indigenous communities in Nova Scotia. The species that are farmed in Nova Scotia include: finfish (salmon, trout and striped bass), shellfish (oysters, mussels, clams, quahogs and scallops), and sea plants (Irish moss, sugar kelp). The industry directly supports close to 900 jobs and contributes more than $100 million dollars to the provincial economy.