Image: Tara Clow
Nova Scotia Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Kent Smith says he’s urging the federal government to take stronger action to protect the province’s seafood industry, including tackling illegal fishing and addressing trade and funding concerns.
Smith met with new federal Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson this week, alongside other East Coast fisheries and aquaculture ministers. He says he used the opportunity to highlight the continued economic and safety impacts of illegal fishing on Nova Scotia’s coastal communities.
“Our seafood industry is the province’s number one export and a key driver for many rural communities,” Smith said in a statement. “We need stronger federal support to protect it.”
He also reiterated Nova Scotia’s opposition to recent federal conservation decisions, including the 2024 closure of the elver fishery, which has been the subject of legal and political debate over licensing, enforcement, and Indigenous rights.
Trade issues were another major topic. Smith pointed to existing Chinese tariffs on Canadian seafood and the threat of new tariffs from the United States as serious risks to the industry’s future.
During the meeting, Smith pressed for swift renewal of the Atlantic Fisheries Fund (AFF), which supports innovation and growth in the sector. The federal government previously committed to renewing the fund, but no timeline has been announced.
Smith also called for a new complementary program focused on product and market diversification to help seafood businesses adapt in the face of economic uncertainty.
He said he’s cautiously optimistic that the new federal minister recognizes how closely federal decisions are tied to the success of Nova Scotia’s seafood economy. The province plans to continue advocating for stronger support at the national level.
