Georges Bank oil and gas moratorium extended

Summary#

The federal and Nova Scotia ministers issued the Joint Notice Extending the Prohibition Period for Certain Activities on Georges Bank under the Canada‑Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation Act. The notice extends the ban on oil and gas exploration, drilling, production and related transport in the Canadian part of Georges Bank from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2032.

What it does#

• Keeps a moratorium in place, for 10 years, on:
  • exploration and drilling for petroleum in the area described in Schedule IV to the Act;
  • production, conservation and processing of petroleum from that area; and
  • the transportation of petroleum produced from that area.
• Brings the extension into force on January 1, 2023 and sets the end date at December 31, 2032.
• Records that the decision followed a statutory review, including an independent report and stakeholder engagement.

Who's affected#

• Fishers and onshore fish-processing workers who use the Canadian portion of Georges Bank. The federal report notes about 556 people employed directly in fishing and 636 people in onshore processing from that area, and a 2020 landed catch value of $140.6 million.
• Oil and gas companies and permit holders that have or might seek exploration rights in the area. The notice affects exploration permits and any plans to drill, produce or transport petroleum from the area.
• Coastal communities in southwest Nova Scotia, First Nations, and environmental groups that rely on or protect the local marine ecosystem.
• Technical and research bodies involved in offshore energy work, such as Stantec Consulting Ltd. and Net‑Zero Atlantic (the group that sponsored the independent review).

If it is unclear whether a specific permit, company or person is covered, the notice applies to the portion of the offshore area described in Schedule IV to the Act.

Why it matters#

• The extension protects a biologically rich and economically important fishing area for another decade. Georges Bank supports many fish species, marine mammals and commercial fisheries.
• It preserves jobs and the value of the local fishery (noted as $140.6 million in 2020) by preventing offshore petroleum activity in that part of the shelf.
• The ministers said they based the decision on an independent scientific and socio‑economic review and on feedback from stakeholders, most of whom supported renewal of the moratorium.
• The review noted both improved offshore safety and spill response technologies since 2010 and continuing uncertainties about impacts on marine species, accidental discharges, and greenhouse‑gas emissions — factors that informed the decision.
• The notice is presented as having no direct financial cost to the government; it fulfills a statutory requirement under the Accord Acts.