The practice of aquaculture in Nova Scotia requires a licence from the Government of Nova Scotia and those wishing to conduct aquaculture in the marine environment, also require a lease from the province for the use of the Crown waterway and bottom. Although the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture is the primary regulator of aquaculture in Nova Scotia, the Aquaculture Division works in concert with a variety of Federal Regulators which include Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Transport Canada (TC), Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Numerous other departments and agencies of the Government of Nova Scotia also provide advice to the Aquaculture Division in relation to aquaculture applications.

Aquaculture is conducted in both marine and land-based site in Nova Scotia. Land-based sites require a license from the Province while marine based sites require both a license and lease from the Province. Decisions regarding aquaculture licenses and leases are governed by the Fisheries and Coastal Resources Act (PDF) and the Aquaculture License and Lease Regulations.

Nova Scotia's Aquaculture Licence and Lease Regulations have recently changed. For current guidance respecting aquaculture licencing and leasing in Nova Scotia, please contact the department. 

Rockweed leases

The Fisheries and Coastal Resources Act requires all rockweed lease applicants to post public notice of their application. Notices must be published in a newspaper having a general circulation in the county or counties in which the applied-for area is located and in the Royal Gazette not less than ten days before the date of the application.

The Act also states that any member of the public who objects to the issuance of a lease in the area referred to in the notice shall notify the Minister, in written form, not more than seven days after the date of publication. These letters are then taken into consideration by the Minister when he reviews the application package.

The minister would like to acknowledge and thank the public for their feedback on all rockweed applications.

• Rockweed Lease
• Application Process (PDF)
• Lease Amendment Process - Ownership Transfer (PDF)

Pay your aquaculture licence and lease fees

You can pay for your aquaculture licence and lease fees online. The payment will be credited to your account the next business day. When you pay online you need to pay the fee by credit or debit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Visa Debit, Debit Mastercard). You can only pay by debit card online if your bank participates in Interac^® Online.

Licensing and Leasing Invoice Payment

To make a payment, you'll need:

• your licence or lease number
• the name of the licence holder or leaseholder
• your invoice number and balance due

If you don't have an account for making online payments, you'll need to create one.