Nova ScotiaFisheries officers arrested a person earlier this week in southwest Nova Scotia and seized more than $1 million worth of scallop meat after they say a surveillance operation found a Clearwater vessel fishing in a closed area.DFO seizes more than $1M worth of scallop meat in operation this weekMichael Gorman · CBC News · Posted: Aug 15, 2025 1:50 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours agoA photo of the Clearwater vessel Atlantic Protector, which Fisheries and Oceans Canada says was fishing in a closed area earlier this week. (Fisheries and Oceans Canada)Fisheries officers arrested a person earlier this week in southwest Nova Scotia and seized more than $1 million worth of scallop meat after they say a surveillance operation found a Clearwater vessel fishing in a closed area.According to a release from Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the arrest happened Tuesday and followed unauthorized activity in Scallop Fishing Area 29 D by the vessel Atlantic Protector.The area, which is off the coast of Shelburne County near Clark’s Harbour, is known for its premium quality scallops.”Fishery officers from our Barrington detachment first detected the fishing vessel via the Vessel Monitoring System,” the release said.”The offshore surveillance unit was then dispatched and visually confirmed the vessel was fishing illegally in the closed area.”According to the release, fisheries officers boarded the vessel at sea and seized the catch.Scallops that had not been shucked were returned live to the ocean. The captain was directed to take the vessel to Shelburne, where the rest of the catch was offloaded.Company says it is committed to sustainable, legal fishingDFO said officers seized about 22,000 kilograms of scallop meat, worth about $1.1 million.A statement from Clearwater said the company is committed to sustainable fishing and “legal operations at all times.” The statement says Atlantic Protector’s captain was accused of being “just over the boundary for a short period of time earlier that day.”Atlantic Protector, a 43-metre factory vessel, has the capability for scallops to be shucked and dry frozen within an hour of being caught, according to Clearwater’s website.Clearwater’s statement says company officials are conducting their own investigation into the incident.”We employ hundreds of hard-working Atlantic Canadians in this fishery and are confident in the integrity of our captains and crew. We will vigorously defend our record on sustainability and look forward to the opportunity to bring evidence forward to defend ourselves.”DFO says its investigation continues.ABOUT THE AUTHORMichael Gorman covers the Nova Scotia legislature for CBC, with additional focuses on health care and rural communities. Contact him with story ideas at michael.gorman@cbc.ca
Clearwater vessel accused of fishing in closed zone
