Fishery officials in Nova Scotia confiscate over a thousand lobster traps, effecting multiple arrests.
In the coastal waters of southwestern Nova Scotia, a significant crackdown on unauthorized lobster harvesting and illegal sales has been underway. The Fisheries Department has been working tirelessly to enforce the law and ensure the Indigenous food, social, and ceremonial fishery can proceed without interference.
The sale, barter, or trade of catches from the food, social, and ceremonial (FSC) fishery is strictly prohibited under the Fisheries Act. Commercial fishermen in the region have accused some Indigenous fishermen of selling their catches out of season, using the FSC fishery as cover. Anyone caught selling, buying, or offering to buy or sell FSC-caught lobster may face arrest, have their catch and gear seized, and be charged.
Over the past three months, officers have inspected 61 holding facilities in the region. Since June, the Fisheries Department has seized over 1,000 lobster traps off the coast of southwestern Nova Scotia. More than 4,400 lobsters have been released from seized traps.
The enforcement efforts have resulted in several arrests. On Aug. 20, officers boarded a boat on St. Marys Bay and arrested three people for allegedly fishing lobster without authorization. On July 31, officers in Yarmouth County seized two lobster fishing boats and arrested six people. In the following weeks, four people were arrested on St. Marys Bay on Aug. 27, and another four were arrested on the bay a day earlier. Charges are pending against those arrested in connection with the seizures.
The Indigenous food, social, and ceremonial fishery was created after a landmark Supreme Court of Canada decision in 1990. The decision allowed First Nations to fish outside the regular commercial season for food and ceremonial purposes, but they cannot sell their catch. The Fisheries Department is working to ensure that these rights are respected while maintaining the integrity of the commercial fishery.
The crackdown on illegal harvesting and sales comes at a time of economic uncertainty. Wages and salary data indicate that getting a pay boost may soon become more difficult. Bank of Canada Governor Carney has promised to "rein in spending" ahead of the federal budget, and the temporary foreign worker program is proposed to be ended by MP Poilievre.
In a separate incident, an 11-year-old child has died and five people were sent to the hospital due to a suspected arson incident in Richmond Hill, Ontario. Our thoughts are with the affected families during this difficult time.
As the crackdown on illegal lobster fishing continues, the Fisheries Department remains committed to enforcing the law and protecting the rights of all fishermen in the region.
