Lobster fishers want to see a crack down on poaching in southwestern Nova Scotia.
The issue was raised during a meeting in Yarmouth among industry members and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO).
They’re worried more moderate livelihood fishing will dominate St. Mary’s Bay.
First Nations fishers maintain their Treaty rights to fish.
DFO has not authorized that fishery, but they do allow some Food, Social and Ceremonial licenses.
Colin Sproul with the Unified Fisheries Conservation Alliance says catches were low in the bay during the fall season.
“Everybody in southwestern Nova Scotia knows why that is. I think it’s incumbent on the government to act now, before lobster fishing in St. Mary’s Bay is a thing of the past,” said Sproul.
DFO says over 2,000 traps were hauled last summer, over 1,200 were seized and 15 people were arrested.
Over 10,600 pounds of lobster were released.
They say there is an enforcement plan in place for this year, but couldn’t commit to increased enforcement.
Sproul adds the department lacks information on catch rates.
“They have no mechanism to take any kind of enforcement action on it. When that truth is revealed to people here locally, they’re shocked by it.”
The DFO officer said they don’t have firm numbers, as First Nations do some self-reporting on the FSC fishery.
When it comes to the fall lobster fishery, there were 28 violations, nine were prior to the beginning of the season.
The officer said when elver poaching began earlier this year, it was all hands on deck on Nova Scotia and New Brunswick rivers.
Some in the meeting questioned DFO on a lack of foresight into that issue.
Sproul adds it’s clear DFO doesn’t have the resources to enforce illegal fishing properly.
In a September, 2023 statement, the department said they’re committed to a renewed relationship with Indigenous peoples, so they can exercise their Treaty rights to fish.
They say many are exercising that right through the Food, Social and Ceremonial fishery, authorized by DFO.
But they say it has to comply with the Fisheries Act, and they are seizing gear and laying charges for those who don’t follow the rules.
LFA 34 port reps and industry leaders at a meeting in Yarmouth on June 12, 2024 (Acadia News Photo)
LFA 34 season recap
Most port reps say it was a slow start to the season, with water temperatures a few degrees below normal.
Prices were high though, reaching over $20 a pound at one point,
In the spring, more lobster were caught and the price fell to around $8.
Smaller, egg-bearing lobster were also becoming more common towards the end of the season.
The reps are hopeful this will translate into a strong start in November.
