Ottawa – Recently, there has been much speculation and public discussion about the state of enforcement in Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Maritimes Region, encompassing Southwest Nova Scotia, Eastern Nova Scotia and Southwest New Brunswick, in light of an ongoing job action.
For absolute clarity, fisheries enforcement activity in the Maritimes Region is active – to suggest otherwise is false. Fishery officers throughout the region continue to patrol by sea, land and air. They continue to conduct investigations and to work with other policing agencies, the provinces and the Public Prosecution Service of Canada to enforce the law. They are highly-trained professionals and their dedication to their work is evident now, as it is every day.
Fishery officers have been taking enforcement measures ranging from compliance awareness to making arrests and seizing unauthorized catch, equipment and vessels.
Fishery officers patrol the Canada-US boundary year-round, and since the beginning of August this year, fishery officers in Southwest New Brunswick have seized American lobster traps that were placed over the boundary line in Canadian waters for offences under the Coastal Fisheries Protection Act, which are now under investigation.
In Southwest Nova Scotia, fishery officers have seized vessels, traps and have returned lobsters to the ocean. In addition, fishery officers have arrested individuals, who have since been released and are currently under investigation for potential charges for offences under the Fisheries Act and regulations.
Fishery officers take a variety of enforcement approaches. So enforcement activity is not always visible, and it may not look the way people want or expect it to look.
It is important to recognize that there is authorized food, social and ceremonial (FSC) lobster harvesting happening in the Region. FSC lobster licences issued by DFO authorize fishing outside commercial seasons. Fish harvested under FSC licences cannot be sold, bartered or traded. Fishery officers are actively conducting patrols at sea to monitor compliance, and to ensure that Indigenous harvesters can carry on with their authorized fishing activities without interference.
Fishery officers are also conducting other enforcement activities to deter and prevent the unauthorized sale of lobster harvested without a commercial licence; working closely with provincial partners in this effort.
If anyone sees activity that they believe is not authorized by the Fisheries Act and associated regulations, they should call their nearest Conservation and Protection detachment to report it: https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/contact/report-signaler-eng.htm.