Over the past year, since the moratorium on seafood buying and processing licences was lifted in Nova Scotia, applications have been coming in.
“Since the licence moratorium was lifted in 2025, the province has received 30 applications for fish buyer and processor licences. To date, 11 licences have been approved, six have received conditional approval, and the remaining applications are under review. No new lobster or snow crab licences have been issued,” said Leanne Strathdee-Dowling, director of communications for the provincial Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
“Interest has come from across the province and covers a range of species, although many applications include more than one species,” said Strathdee-Dowling, adding there have been no applications for new or unusual species.
The moratorium was initiated in 2018 — a temporary measure to maintain fair competition and to reduce speculation during a policy and regulation review. The Province also lifted the long-standing moratorium on issuing groundfish buying and processing licences, which had been in place since the 1994 collapse of the groundfish fisheries.
Strathdee-Dowling said processing times for seafood buying and processing licences depends on how complete an application is. Lobster and snow crab applications require additional review.
“Seafood remains Nova Scotia’s top export and a major driver of jobs and economic activity in communities across the province. The Department is focused on helping the fisheries and aquaculture sectors grow and stay competitive. We are working with industry to grow export markets, diversify products and species, and strengthen sales channels so Nova Scotia can build on its position as Canada’s leading seafood exporter,” said Strathdee-Dowling.
In 2025, Nova Scotia exported about $2.2 billion in seafood. Lobster remained the top export, while snow crab exports posted strong growth, Strathdee-Dowling said, noting the United States and China continue to be our largest markets.
“Seafood is Nova Scotia’s primary export and generates significant economic return to the province, supporting about 20,000 jobs. Nova Scotia is focused on supporting innovation, improving productivity and helping grow our economy. Our seafood sector is focused on opportunity, market and product diversification and responding to changing consumer demands. With expanded market opportunities for the seafood sector, we can help create jobs, strengthen rural coastal communities, and increase the industry’s resilience when export markets are unstable,” said Strathdee-Dowling.
About 50 per cent of the seafood industry is in southwest Nova Scotia. Prior to the moratorium being lifted, 329 companies in Nova Scotia had buying and/or processing licences. There are 4,000 registered fishing vessels and more than 5,700 commercial fishing licence holders in Nova Scotia.
