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The Province is updating the Aquaculture Licence and Lease Regulations to support growth in the aquaculture industry with faster, clearer rules.

The changes will help make the approval process more efficient and better aligned with different types of aquaculture projects.

“Aquaculture is a priority for my department,” said Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Kent Smith. “These changes will help projects get approved faster, make it easier for operators to understand the rules, improve transparency in decision making, and help Nova Scotia’s aquaculture industry grow in a sustainable way.”

Key updates to the regulations include:

• adding a 30-day public comment period for new aquaculture sites or existing sites that are expanding
• the Department’s aquaculture administrator will approve new or expanding shellfish and aquatic plant farms rather than the Nova Scotia Aquaculture Review Board, making the approval process better matched to the size and risk of these projects
• timelines and processes for the review board, which will continue to handle applications for finfish in marine areas, will be updated to ensure applicants, the board and other parties to hearings have the time they need to prepare based on experience.

The updates follow through on changes that the Province made to the Fisheries and Coastal Resources Act in 2024.

Nova Scotia is committed to an open and transparent aquaculture licensing and leasing process that provides the opportunity for public and stakeholder participation. These changes, among others, are an important step to supporting a sustainable and productive aquaculture sector in the province.

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Quotes:

“Good regulations help set the conditions for sector growth and development by providing certainty, clarity, guidance and direction. AANS is pleased to see these updates to the Nova Scotia aquaculture regulations and is optimistic they will encourage investment and growth that puts more food on the tables of Nova Scotians and Canadians.”
— Jeff Bishop, Executive Director, Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia

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Quick Facts:

• Nova Scotia’s aquaculture industry is an important contributor to the provincial economy, generating a production value of $121 million in 2023 and employing almost 800 people
• changes reflect recommendations made by the Nova Scotia Aquaculture Regulatory Advisory Committee as part of the 2022–23 regulatory review
• the Nova Scotia Aquaculture Review Board is an independent, adjudicated decision-making body

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Additional Resources:

Laws and regulations related to aquaculture in Nova Scotia: https://novascotia.ca/fish/aquaculture/laws-regs/

Changes to the Fisheries and Coastal Resources Act in 2024: https://nslegislature.ca/sites/default/files/legc/PDFs/annual%20statutes/2024%20Fall/c005.pdf

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Other than cropping, Province of Nova Scotia photos are not to be altered in any way.

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that Anthony Anthony, who has served as Connecticut’s chief marketing officer since March 2023, will depart state service effective February 6, 2026, to pursue a new professional opportunity.

Under Anthony, statewide brand perception shifted dramatically – from “boring, small, expensive” in 2021, to a modern identity anchored in cultural identity, history, and an unexpected rallying cry: pizza. Anthony spearheaded the strategic rebrand of the state launched in October 2023, better positioning Connecticut within national economic conversations while supporting recent population growth, business recruitment, and visitor spending.

By aligning tourism, business recruitment, resident pride, and innovation messaging, the state saw massive growth in public engagement and global visibility. Since 2022, Connecticut’s earned media impressions increased 841% – from 3.4 billion to more than 32 billion. State pride reached its highest mark since research began in 2012 at 61%, and Net Promoter Scores across Live, Work, and Play categories rose 144%, 107%, and 177%, respectively. Connecticut’s approach became a national case study in place branding and economic storytelling.

“Early in our administration, I said what I believed then and now – no more bad mouthing Connecticut,” Governor Lamont said. “I wanted our state to stop apologizing for who we are and start celebrating it. From his first day in my office in 2021, Anthony took that message to heart and turned it into a strategy that people feel every day — through creativity, vision, and pride. He helped show the world the Connecticut we know – innovative, fun, open for business, and yes, home of the Pizza Capital of the United States. I appreciate his service and the positive impact he’s made on our state.”

“I am sincerely grateful to Governor Lamont and First Lady Annie Lamont for offering me the opportunity to serve in Connecticut, a place I now proudly call home,” Anthony said. “This state made room for me, believed in new ideas, and empowered strategic creativity in a way that allowed me to belong and contribute.”

“Anthony has a rare talent – he takes complex topics — innovation, industry growth, workforce, quality of life — and turns them into stories people want to hear,” Daniel O’Keefe, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, said. “He does it visually, emotionally, and authentically. He brought imagination to economic development and helped make our strategy something people could understand, celebrate, and share. His work strengthened how we market Connecticut across business, tourism, talent, and community.”