Changes are on the way that will help Nova Scotia’s aquaculture industry grow and get projects approved faster.

The province says they are updating license and lease regulations with faster, clearer rules.

Key changes include:

• a 30-day period where the public can have their voice on new or existing sites that are expanding
• the aquaculture administrator will approve new or expanding shellfish and plant farms instead of the review board, fast-tracking the approval process
• timelines and processes for the review board, which will handle finfish applications, will be updated to have the time they need

“Aquaculture is a priority for my department,” said Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Kent Smith. “These changes will help projects get approved faster, make it easier for operators to understand the rules, improve transparency in decision making, and help Nova Scotia’s aquaculture industry grow in a sustainable way.”

These updates follow through on changes made to the Fisheries and Coastal Resources Act in 2024.