A Shelburne area crew is this years recipient of the Platinum Scale Award, the highest honour that Cooke Aquaculture awards to its salmon growers . The Platinum Scale Trophy represents excellence and dedication to both the farm and the environment. It also takes into account factors such as fish health, fish quality, growth rates, feed conversion efficiency and environmental performance. In Nova Scotia, Cooke operates nine salmon farms, six of which are currently active. The company is working on expansion plans in the province that include additional marine sites, a processing plant and a new fish hatchery.