Province Lifts Moratorium on Seafood Buying, Processing Licences
The Province is ending a moratorium on seafood buyer and processor licences that started in 2018. (Province of Nova Scotia / File)
Nova Scotians can apply for seafood buyer and processor licences starting August 1, as the Province ends the moratorium that started in 2018.
“Now, more than ever, we have the opportunity to reimagine the economic potential of our traditional and natural resources,” said Kent Smith, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. “Accepting applications from new entrants, or established businesses that want to diversify or expand their products, will help drive the economy and grow our seafood sector.”
Over the last seven years, the Province has consulted with industry representatives during a policy and regulation review, which is now complete. The moratorium was a temporary measure to maintain fair competition and to reduce speculation during the review period.
Seafood is Nova Scotia’s primary export and generates significant economic return to the province, supporting about 20,000 jobs. Buyers purchase seafood after it has been caught, and processors produce seafood products such as fish fillets and frozen snow crab sections.
About 50 per cent of the industry is in southwest Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia fish and seafood exports totalled $2.4 billion in 2024.
The Province is also lifting the long-standing moratorium on issuing groundfish buying and processing licences, which has been in place since the 1994 collapse of the groundfish fisheries.
The moratoriums will be lifted in two stages. The government will begin accepting applications for buyer and processor licences for most species on August 1. Following continued consultation with industry partners, the government will begin accepting applications for lobster buyer licences and snow crab buyer and processor licences on January 2, 2026.
Quotes:
“Today’s announcement demonstrates that the government has been listening to industry, and we look forward to continuing those conversations. Lifting the moratorium and ensuring new entrants are qualified will support continued diversification of the shore sector and provide strong measures to ensure that the multi-generational family enterprises that are the basis of this industry will continue to contribute to strengthen the provincial economy while also welcoming new entrants.”
— Kris Vascotto, Executive Director, Nova Scotia Seafood Alliance
“As a market and customer-focused seafood company, Sea Star needs a flexible and responsive licensing system that allows me access to the licences that I need when I need them so that I can grow my business. The moratorium has been an artificial barrier to maximizing the value of Nova Scotia’s seafood sector. I fully support the Minister’s intention to lift the licensing moratorium, and I want to thank him and his team for bringing the long-standing policy review to a close so that we can all refocus on selling our fish to the world.”
— Kerry Cunningham, sales/procurement, Sea Star Seafoods
“We are pleased with the Minister’s decision to lift the licensing moratorium. We strongly believe in a free market approach to fish buyer and fish processor licensing that is responsive to market conditions while also encouraging growth and innovation in the sector. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the Minister and his Department as they set the regulatory conditions for our seafood sector to compete and thrive in the global seafood marketplace.”
— Ian McIsaac, President, Seafood Producers Association of Nova Scotia
Quick Facts:
- fish and seafood products were Nova Scotia’s largest export commodity in 2024, accounting for 36 per cent of the province’s export goods
- 329 companies in Nova Scotia have buying and/or processing licences
- there are 4,000 registered fishing vessels and more than 5,700 commercial fishing licence holders in Nova Scotia
- harvest quotas are regulated by the federal government; lifting the moratorium on buyer and processor licences does not impact the volume of seafood harvested
Additional Resources:
Fish processors and fish buyer licence policy: https://novascotia.ca/fish/commercial-fisheries/licensing-leasing/
Nova Scotia Seafood Export Directory: https://nsseafood.com/directory#&market_id=