DFO busy with lobster fishery investigations

By Eric McCarthy

FOR THE SOU’WESTER

Transcontinental Media/The Journal Pioneer

ALBERTON, P.E.I. – The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has laid several charges during the fall lobster fishing season, Louis Richard, detachment supervisor for West Prince reports.

The season ends this week.

Richard said there have been 10 to 12 charges laid by the West Prince and Summerside detachments alleging such violations as fishing in a closed area and being in possession of undersized lobsters.

More charges are pending the completion of investigations, Richard reported.

The number of charges might not reflect an actual increase in illegal fishing activity, Richard acknowledged.

“It’s the first year in the four years that I’ve been here that we’re fully staffed,” Richard noted, suggesting an increased presence might have been a factor.

There has also been more untagged gear seized this year — “a lot more than the previous two or three years,” Richard reported. He estimated between 75 and 100 untagged traps were seized.