Nova ScotiaOn the heels of two recent seizures of lobster by federal fisheries officers, a commercial fishing rep is wondering what action the province is taking to combat illegal purchases.Industry wants provincial government to take action against buyers for illegal purchasesMichael Gorman · CBC News · Posted: Oct 24, 2025 3:30 PM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesFederal fisheries officers seized crates of lobster during a recent inspection of a fish plant in Delaps Cove, N.S. (Fisheries and Oceans Canada)A commercial fishing representative is wondering what action the province is taking to combat illegal purchases following two recent seizures of lobster by federal fisheries officers.Fishery officers in southwest Nova Scotia inspected a commercial plant in Delaps Cove last week, seizing 112 crates of lobsters. One person was arrested for buying lobster harvested for food, social and ceremonial purposes.Lobster caught through the food, social and ceremonial fishery cannot be sold.The 8,078 lobsters were released live into the ocean.That same day, fisheries officers seized 87 crates of lobster from a fish plant in Port Mouton, Queens County. A statement from DFO said the lobster was originally harvested in the St. Peters Canal area of Cape Breton.Lobsters returned to oceanOne person at the plant in Port Mouton was arrested in connection with the shipment of the lobsters and for providing a false statement to a fishery officer.The 6,466 lobsters were returned to their point of origin and released into the ocean.The Chronicle Herald first reported on the busts.Dan Fleck, executive director of the Brazil Rock 33/34 Lobster Association, commended the efforts by federal officials, but said he and others in the commercial industry wonder what action the provincial government is taking.“The Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture licenses the buyers,” he said in an interview.“Where are the provincial fisheries inspectors?”Dan Fleck is the executive director of the Brazil Rock 33/34 Lobster Association. (Taryn Grant/CBC)Officials with the provincial department have not responded to repeated requests for comment.Provincial Fisheries Minister Kent Smith has been critical of the federal government for what he’s said is a lack of enforcement action to combat illegal lobster fishing.Smith’s department has issued letters to buyers and processors, who are also licensed by the province, reminding them that everything stored in their facilities must be legally harvested.A year ago, the province introduced new licence conditions for fish buyers and processors intended, in part, to help verify the source location of all fish and fish products in facilities, along with the location of sales.The changes also require lobster buyers to provide the location and details related to all holding and handling facilities they own, lease or use, and they can only store lobsters at facilities listed on their licence.Captains won’t support buyers doing harmAt the time the changes were announced, Smith pledged more facility inspections and an increase in auditing of records.Fleck said provincial officials appear to be absent in the most recent enforcement efforts.“Why aren’t we hearing about them taking action and filing charges and making seizures? They’re supposed to be checking on the buyers, as well.”Although DFO has not identified the parties involved in the recent seizures, Fleck said people in those communities know who they are and they won’t forget when commercial fishing seasons open.“Captains are not going to be supporting these buyers, they’re not going to sell their product to these buyers because they’re doing irreparable harm to the industry.”MORE TOP STORIESABOUT 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
Fisheries rep calls for provincial intervention following lobster seizures
