A moratorium on fish farms in Nova Scotia will be lifted next year.
Fisheries Minister Keith Colwell made the announcement today in Lunenburg.
A ban was put in place in May 2013.
Colwell says people will have more input on new sites.
It was part of a broader announcement as new regulations were introduced for aquaculture.
They are expected to provide more transparency and accountability to the industry.
Colwell says it includes mandatory reporting of fish diseases and annual performance reviews.
They also require further testing and monitoring fish farms and making the results public.
Colwell says it’s a historic day for Nova Scotia.
“I think we’re on the road now to development, yes, but also doing it environmentally-friendly and with communities in mind. It’s a whole different approach than we’ve ever had before in the province.”
Existing fish farms in the province will have to create a fish management plan that meets environmental standards.
A three-person aquaculture review board will receive new applications and hold a public meeting before making a decision on a site.
The changes are part of recommendations from the auditor general and department staff.
The Nova Scotia government says the aquaculture industry is worth more than $60-million.
