Seven people arrested, being charged with lobster fishing violations

By Tina Comeau

THE VANGUARD

NovaNewsNow.com

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has made arrests and is laying charges in connection with two alleged incidents in Yarmouth harbour of fishing untagged lobster traps and fishing during a closed time.

On Friday night, Aug. 8, two people were apprehended in Yarmouth harbour.

“One individual was given an appearance notice for possession of undersized lobster and fishing untagged lobster traps. And the other one was charged with fishing during a closed time,” Jacob MacLeay, the acting area chief of conservation and protection, said on Sunday.

DFO claims to have seized 60 legal size lobsters and 50 undersized ones. A 20-foot boat with an outboard motor and lobster traps were also seized.

On Saturday evening, Aug. 9, five people were arrested with charges pending.

“Four of them will be charged with fishing untagged lobster traps and one will be charged with fishing during a closed time,” MacLeay said.

There were lobster traps seized, as well as a 40-foot lobster boat, the Ronnie Joseph.

Because the charges have not yet been formally laid with the court, no names are available.

All of the people being charged have been given appearance notices for Sept. 23 in provincial court.

Asked how the arrests came about, MacLeay said, “The officers worked on it, they put their time in. There was some information passed along from the community, more concern than anything. And the officers worked on it in the last couple of days.”