Court dates set over in undersized lobsters case

By Tina Comeau

SOU'WESTER

NovaNewsNow.com

Three people facing charges in connection with a seizure of more than 5,000 alleged undersized lobsters in southwestern Nova Scotia will face another day in court.

The three accused – Daniel Edward Doucette, 46, Earl Patrick Boudreau, 44, both of Wedgeport, and Randall James Muise, 43, of Yarmouth – were to make their first court appearance in provincial court on Tuesday, July 15.

Instead, the matters were set over to a future court date to give defence lawyers more time to prepare prior to the entering of pleas.

The next court date has been set for Aug. 26.

The three men were arrested and charged with possession of small lobsters following an overnight seizure at the Wedgeport Tuna Wharf on May 26.

DFO says it seized 5,330 undersized lobsters, a fishing vessel and a five-ton cube rental van. The seizure took place just days before the commercial lobster fishery was due to end. DFO said tips from the public assisted it in its operation.

A few of the seized lobsters were kept for evidence, the rest were returned to the water. The size of the seizure, said to be the largest in southwestern Nova Scotia history, made headlines across the country.

An investigation had been pending against two other people who were on the fishing vessel at the time of the seizure. The DFO field supervisor involved in the investigation says it has been decided that charges will not be laid against these people.