The Board consists of five members and two alternate members who are appointed for fixed terms of office. The Government of Canada and the Government of Nova Scotia each appoint two members and one alternate member. The Chair is appointed by both governments. The Board has a Chief Executive Officer who is responsible for day to day operations of the Board and a staff of thirty-eight people.

Resources and Rights
This Department is responsible for assessing discovered petroleum resources and evaluating the undiscovered petroleum resource potential of the Nova Scotia offshore area; recommending lands for disposition through calls for bids (including the terms and conditions of calls for bids and licences); administering licences under which oil and gas rights are held and maintaining a public registry of such licences; evaluating the results of geological and geophysical surveys and exploratory and development drilling; determining areas to be designated as significant discoveries or commercial discoveries; archiving geological, geophysical and well history reports; and curating cuttings, cores and fluid samples.

Health, Safety and Environment
This Department is responsible for providing recommendations regarding the approval of plans, programs and specific activities related to exploration, development or production; monitoring any conditions of approval; conducting audits, inspections and investigations related to procedures, training and equipment; reviewing operator's management system frameworks and safety plans; reviewing operators' emergency response plans; and monitoring and providing status reports on offshore petroleum activities. It is also responsible for conserving oil and gas resources; assessing the productive capacities of wells; monitoring field performance and conducting reservoir performance studies; and administering regulations concerning production schemes, production rate limitations and the acquisition of reservoir data.

This Department also assesses the environmental effects of offshore operations as well as risks to offshore operations arising from the physical environment. It administers and advises on environmental protection regulations and guidelines, establishes and monitors compliance with physical environment and effluent treatment requirements, coordinates with other environmental agencies, and reviews operators' environmental emergency contingency plans.

Administration, Industrial Benefits and Legal
This Department provides administrative, financial, human resources and legal services to the Board. The Department also administers statutory requirements concerning employment and industrial benefits plans.

Communications and Government Affairs
The Department is responsible for the Board's external communications, including publications and public relations.