Then premier Rodney MacDonald announced the moratorium on expansion at the Port Mouton site in 2009. According to MacDonald, it did not have a defined time period.
However no paperwork was ever put forward to make it official according to Belliveau. The only evidence the province had was what was written in The Advance.
"This was the premier of the time that made a political statement in a town hall," he says.
Belliveau says the province is not bound by MacDonald's announcement, and would not rule out considering expansion if there was an application. However the moratorium would be considered as part of the review.
"There is a very rigorous review, and we have to deal with different proposals as they come forward," he said.
There is no application to expand the site at present, and there has not been any made since Cooke Aquaculture withdrew their application in 2009.
For now though, Belliveau says they will continue to honour the present lease at the site.
"We're simply honouring something that has been signed by the previous governments, and ensure that it is done in a sustainable manner."
He says it would be difficult to break the lease, and there would likely be legal challenges. However Belliveau says they will not consider breaking the lease anyway.
The lease must by renewed every five years, and Belliveau says they consider all information when making a decision. He says the request for the ban will be part of the consideration. The original site was approved in 1995, and the lease was last renewed in 2010. It is next up for renewal in March of 2015.
He added the province will soon have a better framework when they introduce their aquaculture strategy.
"There are good questions being raised across the province, and those will be part of our aquaculture strategy being introduced shortly."
Belliveau says he finds it ironic that Mayor John Leefe, formerly Queens MLA and minister of fisheries, was the one who signed the first memorandum of understanding on aquaculture development in 1986.
The letter from Belliveau to the Region was read aloud in committee of the Whole on May 8, in response to the Region of Queens backing a ban on aquaculture in the bay.
Councillors expressed dismay over the province not pulling the lease or backing a ban.
"I'd like to know if he has the authority to do it, why doesn't he do it?" said Coun. Doug Adams.
The Friends of Port Mouton Bay were having a meeting to plan their next move, however they were disappointed the ministers letter.
MLA response
Queens MLA Vicki Conrad says she was surprised to learn the moratorium did not have any official backing, but she stands by her statements made in the past opposing the expansion.
"The moratorium is something Darrell (Dexter) and I spoke about, and indicated we would honour," she says.
She says it is her understanding they would have to look an expansion if it came forward.
"If and only if it came forward, all things would be considered including the moratorium even though there isn't any paperwork," she says.
"Sticking with my principals, I came out against it and that's where I remain today"
As for a ban on the existing site, she says that is a whole other issue, and one she has not spoken out about in the past. She also echoed Belliveau's comment that it would create legal issues if they tried to revoke the lease.
"It's not as easy as removing the site, and the Mayor is aware of that," she says.
The operators of the original site have also done due diligence when it comes to applications and the environmental assessments, she says.
Conrad says she recognizes there is opposition to the fish farm in all forms, and will continue to speak out against expansion.
"I absolutely hear what the community is saying, but I put trust in the minister's experience that he is going to put in place all of the procedures to protect the traditional fisheries as aquaculture develops across the province."
She adds the province will be releasing their aquaculture strategy soon, and will wait for that before saying anything else about the entire site.
"I understand the legal ramifications if I say that, and I won't go there saying there should be no existing site."
