Anyone who wants to engage in an Aquaculture business activity at a specific location in Nova Scotia.

Nova Scotia Fisheries and Aquaculture

Coastal Resource Coordinators
(see Nova Scotia Fisheries and Aquaculture: Regional Offices )

OR

Aquaculture Division
Nova Scotia Fisheries and Aquaculture
Homburg Building
3rd Floor
1741 Brunswick Street
Halifax, NS B3J 3C4

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 2223
Halifax, NS B3J 3C4

Tel: (902) 424-0356
Fax: (902) 722-1490

An application form can be obtained from the local N.S. Coastal Resource Coordinator or the Aquaculture Division office of Nova Scotia Fisheries and Aquaculture . When completed, it is submitted to the Aquaculture Division, along with an administration fee of $608.84 and any details that may be requested. The request is reviewed by the appropriate government agencies, local stakeholder groups and a technical review committee.

If approved by the Minister, the applicant is granted a licence to conduct the activity in accordance with the terms and conditions of that licence.

Commercial and experimental Licenses/Leases that propose to employ suspended culture methods, typically require the completion of a Canadian Environmental Assessment Act review. In these cases, it may take up to 3.5 years to complete the application process. Although the Department's role takes approximately 6 months to conduct, Federal regulators may take up to an additional three years depending on the complexity of the application. This additional time is beyond the control of the Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

Licenses/Leases for bottom culture or landbased activities that do not require a completion of a Canadian Environmental Assessment Act review usually take approximately 140 days to complete the application process.

Licence/Lease renewals typically require 90 days to complete. Our Department notifies the Licence holder one year in advance to start the renewal process.

As of April 1, 2011, there is a new fee structure for this Licence:

Application Fee: $608.84
Yearly Licence Fee (U-Fish): $250.97
Yearly Licence Fee (All Others): $365.30
Assignment Fee: $243.54
Amendment Fee: $121.77
Ten Year Licence Renewal Fee: $365.30
Public Access to Files Fee: $12.18

This licence is valid for 10 years from the day it is issued.  It can be renewed; the renewal process is started by the licence holder, who should contact the Department before the licence expires.  The renewal is valid for 5 years from the day it is issued.

1. Exemptions or approvals under the Navigable Waters Protection Act - Canadian Coast Guard

2. Water Approval: Water Course Alteration, Nova Scotia Environment
    
3. Aquaculture Lease, Nova Scotia Fisheries and Aquaculture

4. The Department may consult with other agencies such as:
   
   1. Department of Fisheries and Oceans (Canada)
      
   2. Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations
      
   3. Federal Public Works
      
   4. N.S. Registry of Joint Stock Companies
      
   5. Environment Canada
      
   6. N.S. Department of Natural Resources
      
   7. Nova Scotia Fisheries and Aquaculture
       
5. An Environmental Assessment may be required for any Aquaculture activity other than direct bottom culture.  This will be determined early in the application process.

1. Assignment deals with a change in name or ownership of the issued lease/licence.
   
2. Amendment deals with any other changes to an issued lease/licence (ie. species, technology etc.); and
   
3. Public Access to Files involves the inspection of documents maintained by the Registrar of Aquaculture (excluding confidential information)

Applicants are required to submit a development plan at the time of application which includes a business plan, relevant technical and biological data.

Fisheries and Coastal Resources Act and Regulations, Revised Statutes of Nova Scotia, 1996, Chapter 25