A DFO enforcement officer in Yarmouth, NS
Following criticism from three conservative MPs over a lack of enforcement on elver poaching the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has provided insights into the enforcement they’ve been doing.
Noting that conservation is thier highest priority officials with DFO maintain that their enforcement helps ensure the safe and orderly management of the fishery and the conservation of the stock.
Fishery officers have been patrolling rivers, inspecting holding facilities and conducting surveillance and inspections at airports, border crossings and other exit points to ensure compliance with the regulations related to the harvest and sale of elver.
From March 13 to April 10, fishery officers conducted 741 patrols of rivers where elver fishing was observed. These efforts have resulted in fishery officers seizing 35.81 kg of elver during this period. This total includes the 25 kg of elver seized at Halifax Stanfield International Airport on April 5. Fishery officers have also seized 21 nets, storage equipment, an ATV and a trailer, have arrested 12 individuals and issued 1 Summary Offence Ticket for violations of the Fisheries Act.
Any harvesting, purchase or sale of elver taking place without a licence, or in contravention of a DFO-issued licence, is unauthorized and subject to enforcement action. Fishery officers may take a variety of enforcement approaches, which include education, issuing warnings and/or laying charges, depending on their assessment of the situational factors.
DFO says they will continue to closely monitor the fishery to support authorized harvesters, deter and disrupt unauthorized harvesting and to ensure that the amount of elver harvested remains within overall authorized Total Allowable Catch (TAC).
