Nova Scotia Fisheries Minister Kent Smith, left, executive director fisheries and aquaculture Geordie MacLachlan and deputy fisheries minister Jason Hollet, right, announce the lifting of seafood buyer and licensing moratoriums during a news conference in Halifax on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Keith Doucette
Nova Scotia Fisheries Minister Kent Smith, left, executive director fisheries and aquaculture Geordie MacLachlan and deputy fisheries minister Jason Hollet, right, announce the lifting of seafood buyer and licensing moratoriums during a news conference in Halifax on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Keith Doucette
HALIFAX - Nova Scotia is lifting two long-standing moratoriums on new seafood buyer and processor licences starting Aug. 1.
Fisheries Minister Kent Smith says the province is ending the moratorium on groundfish that was imposed in 1994, and the moratorium from 2018 on licences for all other seafood.
Smith says opening the seafood sector to new entrants will help drive the province’s economy as processors look to diversify their markets.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
The province will begin accepting applications for buyer and processor licences for most species on Aug. 1, and for buyer licences for lobster and snow crab starting Jan. 2, 2026.
The province currently has a total of 329 buyer and processor licence holders for all species of seafood.
Fish and seafood products were Nova Scotia’s largest export commodity in 2024, accounting for 36 per cent of exports.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 13, 2025.
Camp is a place where unexpected fun leads to unleashed potential.
With your support, The º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍøStar Fresh Air Fund provides opportunities for financially vulnerable children to ignite a lifelong love for adventure at camp. Above all, your kindness makes it happen.
To join the conversation set a first and last name in your user profile.
Sign in or register for free to join the Conversation