News release

Amendments to Fisheries and Coastal Resources Act

Fisheries and Aquaculture

Changes to the Fisheries and Coastal Resources Act introduced today, October 19, will increase the size of the Nova Scotia Aquaculture Review Board from three members to up to 10 to ensure the availability of board members for meetings and hearings.

“These changes will ensure that there is a sufficient roster of board members to preside at hearings in order that board meetings can occur in a timely manner,” said Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Steve Craig. “The amendments address a recommendation of the current board to increase membership.”

The amendments also clarify:

  • the implementation of a vice-chair position
  • that reviews could be heard by a panel consisting of one or more board members, and
  • that the decision of the board is based on the majority.

Quick Facts:

  • aquaculture in Nova Scotia had a market value of more than $90 million and employed 881 Nova Scotians in 2020
  • the Nova Scotia Aquaculture Review Board is an independent, judicial, decision-making body with a mandate to decide on aquaculture applications in marine areas for new sites, expansions to existing sites and the addition of finfish species to sites not currently approved to produce finfish

Additional Resources:

More information on the Nova Scotia Aquaculture Review Board is available at: https://arb.novascotia.ca/

Laws and regulations related to aquaculture in Nova Scotia:
https://novascotia.ca/fish/aquaculture/laws-regs/

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