Enforcement news
Current enforcement
Elver fishery – 2025 season
Fishery officers have a strong presence at riverside, at holding facilities and export points to ensure compliance with regulations and conditions of licence to support the sustainability and orderly management of the elver fishery.
Fishery officers have a range of compliance measures that they can use depending on the particular situation, which may include education, issuing warnings, issuing tickets, seizing items and/or making arrests. Any compliance measures taken will be based on numerous factors, including the severity of the offence, and the context in which it was committed.
April 28 - Update 2
- 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.
April 28
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.
April 25
- In the early morning hours of April 24th, 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.
April 24
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.
April 22
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.
April 17
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.
April 14
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.
April 10
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.
April 6
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.
Report suspicious fishing activities
We are committed to the conservation and protection of Canada's aquatic resources. Please report suspicious fishing activities by:
- contacting us
- anonymously calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)
- submitting a tip online
- texting TIP190 and your message to CRIMES (274637) (where available)
Find the latest enforcement updates on current or on-going Conservation and Protection ( C&P) operations. Please note, some details may not be available due to ongoing investigations, Privacy Act requirements, or to protect fishery officer and public safety.
About Conservation and Protection (C&P) enforcement
Fisheries and Oceans Canada's C&P Program is tasked with the compliance and enforcement provisions of the Fisheries Act. Over 600 C&P fishery officers across Canada work with the public, harvesters, Indigenous communities, industry and other groups to conserve and protect Canada's freshwater and marine fisheries resources and their habitat.
Unauthorized fishing, violence and destruction of fish or fish habitat are not tolerated. Such actions undermine sustainable fisheries management in Canada. Our fishery officers work together and with other law enforcement agencies to patrol Canada's rivers and oceans, on land, and in the air to deter and disrupt unauthorized harvests, sales and exports of aquatic resources.
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