New government regulations in New Brunswick will limit uranium exploration and staking of claims.

The province announced on Friday that exploration is now banned on municipal land and in watersheds and fields with private wells. Claims will also not be allowed to be staked within 300 metres of private homes.

The new regulations are retroactive and exploration in previous claims in areas that are now banned will not be able to continue.

Exploration on Crown lands and land privately owned by companies will be allowed to continue.

The announcement comes after months of controversy about whether uranium exploration and mining posed a threat to the province's environment and watersheds.

The number of staked claims for uranium in New Brunswick has more than tripled in the last three years, resulting in many property owners surprised to find stakes or flags on their land.

Exploration for uranium is occurring south and west of Moncton, and smaller companies are also looking for other deposits in the province.

Two heated public meetings were held in June where residents protested the exploration of uranium in the province and called on the province to do more to protect their health and properties.

"It was clear from the recent public meetings that something had to be done to protect not only homeowners' rights but also to increase the level of protection to New Brunswickers' drinking water supplies," said Environment Minister Roland Haché.

The government will also be suspending all mineral claims-staking in the province while it develops a new electronic map staking system.

The changes are meant to strike a balance between calming public concerns and not scaring off exploration companies, said Natural Resources Minister Donald Arseneault.

"The mining sector is a sector that's going to be a major economic sector for our province for the future but at the same time it's important that we do respect the concerns raised by the citizens."

There's no scientific basis for the public fear of uranium exploration but mining companies do recognize the government must calm its citizens, said Dave Plant, spokesman for Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, which is representing several companies.

"We do recognize that the general public does have some anxiety surrounding this issue so we respect the fact that government has had to respond in a constructive and proactive manner."

Opposition critic Carl Urquhart said the changes do nothing to help rural New Brunswickers.

"Three hundred metres isn't very far back into it especially when you're talking uranium mining."

The opposition has called for a moratorium on uranium exploration and mining in the province, while environmental groups and Moncton's city council have called for a ban. There is concern that uranium mining could affect watersheds and that its long-term impacts would outweigh any short-term economic gain.

The Conservatives still want a complete ban on uranium exploration in the province, Urquhart said.