A three-year strategy for the Nova Scotia seafood sector released on June 24 aims to help seafood businesses respond to challenges including rising costs, labour shortages and global trade uncertainty.
“The seafood sector is one of our strongest natural assets and has enormous potential to grow,” said Nova Scotia Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Smith when releasing the strategy at Sea Star Seafoods in Clark’s Harbour.
“This strategy provides a clear and practical road map to improve services, strengthen partnerships, expand market opportunities and better support businesses across the seafood sector,” said the Minister.
The strategy is built around four pillars: industry growth and innovation, market and product diversification, operational efficiency and communications and collaboration. It clearly defines specific roles for the government and opportunities for industry.
“It’s a really good document,” said Kris Vascotto, executive director of the Nova Scotia Seafood Alliance. “What is really does is what we are trying to do. We can make sure it is aligned with the provincial priorities, so if I have somebody looking to invest in a processing plant or looking to decide to diversify their markets, this is almost a recipe to make sure they are aligned with where the province is trying to go — aligned with their programs, aligned with program supports, so it’s going to improve their ability to access them. At the same time, it’s a very flexible strategy, because when you talk about diversification, there is not a list of countries where we are going to diversify to because those are things that are going to be developed in the next one to three years. From that side it’s an excellent piece. I look forward to seeing the supports that are going to be put to implement this into action, but overall, I can say I’m optimistic.”
The Strategy and its actions are informed by the State of the Seafood Sector Analysis (MRSB 2025), which provided the evidence base for this work.
“That analysis drew on research, key informant interviews, regional focus groups, and sector surveys conducted in 2025. The analysis provided a snapshot of the sector’s current state, challenges and opportunities,” said the province.
Key actions include:
- Launch the Seafood Sector Innovation Hub for applied research, innovation, technology adoption and commercialization support; the 2026–2027 budget includes $1.5 million this year and ongoing annual funding for this priority commitment.
- Improve programs and funding to grow sector innovation, efficiency and resilience.
- Grow Nova Scotia’s aquaculture sector.
- Provide support for product diversification, value-added processing and full product utilization.
- Offer expanded market diversification funding and supports through the Seafood and Agrifood Market Diversification funding program; the 2026–2027 budget includes $4 million over three years for this priority commitment.
- Improve processes, policies and workflows to support faster approvals.
- Improve communication of services and supports for the seafood sector.
“This strategy recognizes that Nova Scotia’s seafood sector can’t rely on doing things the way we did 20 years ago. Investments in automation, innovation, market diversification and workforce development are essential if we’re going to remain globally competitive. The sector supports thousands of families in rural Nova Scotia, and continues creating opportunities for the next generation and ensuring Nova Scotia remains a global leader in premium seafood. Ultimately, we have to move fast and together,” said Kerry Cunningham, sales/procurement, Sea Star Seafoods and director of the Nova Scotia Seafood Alliance.
Jeff Bishop, executive director of the Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia said his association is “pleased to see the release of a Nova Scotia Seafood Sector Strategy focused on growth, innovation, diversification and efficiency. Work in these areas will help unlock the untapped potential of the aquaculture sector in our province and our region.”
Seafood is Nova Scotia’s top export industry. In 2025, Nova Scotia seafood exports were worth about $2.2 billion. The seafood industry employed about 19,000 people in 2025.
