Enforcement news

In June, fishery officers in northeastern New Brunswick inspected 180 lobster vessels and 480 traps in Lobster Fishing Area 23, from Pointe Verte to Escuminac, to ensure compliance with fisheries management measures.

As a result of these inspections, 19 files are under investigation, 21 written warnings and 4 tickets have been issued for various violations related to the minimum size of lobster, possession of females carrying eggs, non-regulatory trap escapes, possession of lobster parts separated from the thorax, incomplete tag registers and an incomplete electronic logbook.

Three Fishery Guardians from Esgenoopetitj First Nation joined the effort to help protect the sustainability of this fishery.

On June 14, fishery officers were present at the demonstration held in Havre-Saint-Pierre, for access to the recreational lobster fishery. Fishery officers monitored and documented the activities. The evidence collected will be analyzed to determine if there have been any offences under the Fisheries Act and if charges should be laid.

Remember that it is still illegal to fish lobster for recreational purposes.

On May 21 and 22, 2025, fishery officers did a two-day compliance inspection blitz in lobster fishing areas in Eastern PEI. The goal of the inspections was to remind harvesters of the importance of complying with regulations and the conditions of their licences, and to educate them on the Marine Mammal Regulations. An Abegweit First Nation Guardian assisted in the inspections. Harvesters, fish buying stations, and other partners were very collaborative.

In total, 144 vessels involved in the lobster fishing area 24 and 26A were inspected, and 25 written warnings were handed out. Examples of issues addressed by written warnings were:

• undersize lobster
• possession of female lobster with eggs attached
• failure to comply with conditions of licence, failure to produce licensing documents.

One summary offense ticket was issued, and three cases are under investigation.

As of June 1, fishery officers have conducted 1074 riverside inspections, 144 inspections at holding facilities and 295 inspections at airports. There have been arrests for violations of the Fisheries Act and associated regulations; investigations are underway. Fishery officers are observing high levels of compliance.

As of May 28, fishery officers have conducted 1067 riverside inspections, 143 inspections at holding facilities and 293 inspections at airports. There have been arrests for violations of the Fisheries Act and associated regulations; investigations are underway. Fishery officers are observing high levels of compliance.

As of May 25, fishery officers have conducted 1011 riverside inspections, 142 inspections at holding facilities and 278 inspections at airports. There have been arrests for violations of the Fisheries Act and associated regulations; investigations are underway. Fishery officers are observing high levels of compliance.

As of May 21, fishery officers have conducted 999 riverside inspections, 138 inspections at holding facilities and 264 inspections at airports. There have been arrests for violations of the Fisheries Act and associated regulations; investigations are underway. Fishery officers are observing high levels of compliance.

• On May 19, fishery officers conducting surveillance at the Meteghan River, Nova Scotia observed individuals fishing for elver.
• After conducting a roadside inspection, three individuals were arrested for violations under the Fisheries Act and the Regulations for the Possession and Export of Elvers, for unauthorized harvest and possession of elver.
• Fishery officers seized fishing equipment, a vehicle and over four kilograms of elvers. The elvers were released back into the river.

As of May 19, fishery officers have conducted 997 riverside inspections, 135 inspections at holding facilities and 257 inspections at airports. There have been arrests for violations of the Fisheries Act and associated regulations; investigations are underway. Fishery officers are observing high levels of compliance.

• On the evening of May 14, fishery officers responded to a complaint of unauthorized elver fishing on the Mushamush River, located in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia.
• The fishery officers arrested, and subsequently released, one individual for violations under the Fisheries Act, and the Possession and Export of Elver Regulations, for fishing without authorization.
• A variety of elver fishing equipment and a small quantity of elvers were seized; the elvers were returned to the river. An investigation into this matter is now underway.

As of May 14, fishery officers have conducted 975 riverside inspections, 125 inspections at holding facilities and 237 inspections at airports. There have been arrests for violations of the Fisheries Act and associated regulations; investigations are underway. Fishery officers are observing high levels of compliance.

As of May 11, fishery officers have conducted 929 riverside inspections, 118 inspections at holding facilities and 227 inspections at airports. There have been arrests for violations of the Fisheries Act and associated regulations; investigations are underway. Fishery officers are observing high levels of compliance.

• On May 8, fishery officers conducting riverside patrols in Queens County arrested two individuals on the Mersey River for unauthorized elver fishing.
• Approximately five kilograms of elvers were seized, along with fishing equipment, elver transport equipment and a vehicle.
• An investigation into this matter is now underway related to offences under the Fisheries Act and the Possession and Export of Elvers Regulations.

As of May 7, fishery officers have conducted 913 riverside inspections, 109 inspections at holding facilities and 217 inspections at airports. There have been arrests for violations of the Fisheries Act and associated regulations; investigations are underway. Fishery officers are observing high levels of compliance.

As of May 4, fishery officers have conducted 907 riverside inspections, 104 inspections at holding facilities and 205 inspections at airports. There have been arrests for violations of the Fisheries Act and associated regulations; investigations are underway. Fishery officers are observing high levels of compliance.

• On May 1 fishery officers responded to a home in Digby County at the request of the RCMP. RCMP were on site executing a search warrant related to their mandate, under the Criminal Code.
• Fishery officers seized approximately 30 kilograms of elvers being illegally stored at the home, along with related equipment.
• An investigation into this matter is now underway related to offences under the Fisheries Act and the Possession and Export of Elvers Regulations.

• On April 30, fishery officers executed a search warrant at a site in Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia, related to offences under the Fisheries Act and the Possession and Export of Elvers Regulations.
• As a result of the search, fishery officers seized a quantity of elver and associated equipment. One individual was arrested for violations under the Fisheries Act, including the unauthorized possession of elvers. An investigation into this matter is now underway.
• A reminder that under the new elver regulations and existing Maritime Provinces Fishery Regulations, there are three categories of elver licences, each administered and regulated by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO):
  1. Fishing licences, issued under the Maritime Provinces Fishery Regulations, will continue to regulate the harvesting and transportation of domestic elvers from the water to elver holding facilities.
  2. A newly-introduced possession licence is required to possess and store domestically-caught and imported elvers at a holding facility anywhere in Canada, and to transport elvers within Canada (with certain exceptions) and to a place of exit from Canada, such as airports or customs-controlled land border crossings.
  3. A newly-introduced export licence is required to export elvers from Canada.

As of April 30, fishery officers have conducted 874 riverside inspections, 97 inspections at holding facilities and 199 inspections at airports. There have been arrests for violations of the Fisheries Act and associated regulations; investigations are underway. Fishery officers are observing high levels of compliance.

• In the early morning hours of April 26, while patrolling a river in Musquodoboit Harbour, Nova Scotia, a fishery officer was struck in the leg by a vehicle that had been parked by the river after warning the driver they were approaching the car.
• Two individuals were arrested and are now under investigation for offences under the Fisheries Act. A quantity of elvers was seized from the vehicle and returned to the river.
• The individual who struck the fishery officer with their vehicle is under investigation by the RCMP for offences under the Criminal Code.

As of April 27, fishery officers have conducted 815 riverside inspections, 93 inspections at holding facilities and 186 inspections at airports. There have been arrests for violations of the Fisheries Act and associated regulations; investigations are underway. Fishery officers are observing high levels of compliance.

• In the early morning hours of April 24, fishery officers returned almost 60 kilograms of elver to their river of origin after four individuals were arrested (and later released) along the Musquodoboit River for violations under the Fisheries Act, for fishing elver without authorization. Officers also seized fishing equipment.
• An investigation into this matter is now underway.
• Sixty kilograms of elver has a market value of approximately $99,000.

As of April 23, fishery officers have conducted 728 riverside inspections, 86 inspections at holding facilities and 161 inspections at airports. There have been arrests for violations of the Fisheries Act and associated regulations; investigations are underway. Fishery officers are observing high levels of compliance.

As of April 21, fishery officers have conducted 724 riverside inspections, 81 inspections at holding facilities and 123 inspections at airports. There have been arrests for violations of the Fisheries Act and associated regulations; investigations are underway. Fishery officers are observing high levels of compliance.

As of April 16, fishery officers have conducted 687 riverside inspections, 71 inspections at holding facilities and 96 inspections at airports. There have been arrests for violations of the Fisheries Act and associated regulations; investigations are underway. Fishery officers are observing high levels of compliance.

As of April 13, fishery officers have conducted 594 riverside inspections, 64 inspections at holding facilities and 83 inspections at airports. There have been arrests for violations of the Fisheries Act and associated regulations; investigations are underway. Fishery officers are observing high levels of compliance.

As of April 9, fishery officers have conducted 544 riverside inspections, 56 inspections at holding facilities and 71 inspections at airports. There have been arrests for violations of the Fisheries Act and associated regulations; investigations are underway. Fishery officers are observing high levels of compliance.

As of April 3, fishery officers have conducted 345 riverside inspections, 17 inspections at holding facilities and 12 inspections at airports. There have been arrests for violations of the Fisheries Act and associated regulations; investigations are underway. Fishery officers are observing high levels of compliance.