Nova Scotia used its first meeting with Canada's new fisheries minister to express caution over the Trudeau government's plan to greatly expand marine protected areas, a move that could close designated ocean and coastal areas to economic activities like offshore energy development and fishing.

The province's energy minister, Michel Samson, delivered the message Tuesday during a Halifax stop by federal Fisheries Minister Hunter Tootoo.

The first item in the mandate letter from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau instructs Tootoo to work to increase the proportion of Canada's marine and coastal areas that are protected to five per cent by 2017 and 10 per cent by 2020.

"Nova Scotia wants to do its part," Samson told CBC News after the meeting. "We want to be part of the success of this exciting initiative, but at the same time let's make sure any sort of economic potential or economic development that could take part in these areas is properly explored prior to any final decision being made."

Read the full story at CBC >>

Read more about Nova Scotia fisheries >>