Tough season leads to increase in illegal activity on the water

By Amy Woolvett

FOR THE SOU’WESTER

Fish harvesters have been feeling the pinch from high costs this past season and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in Queens County, N.S., find their investigations have risen drastically in response.

“Some of the extra pressures on fish harvesters have made it so we see the investigations into the theft of lobsters are higher than they have ever been,” said Bill Wolfe, conservation and protection supervisor for the DFO.

The overall season for harvesters was reported as good with catches up from last year, but with the rising cost of fuel and bait crime is increasing on the waters.

Six charges were laid this spring but many investigations by DFO have not yet reached the courtroom.

Wolfe said often the DFO will investigate what he calls a territorial dispute where a fish harvester who may feel threatened by another vessel coming too close to his area will take the other traps’ catch and cut the lines – a warning not to come back.

“It is an unwritten agreement made over the years by the fishermen,” said Wolfe. “However, DFO laws state that fish harvesters with their licence can fish anywhere within their LFA 33.

“The theft of lobster is extremely high and is going on everywhere in our detachment area,” said Wolfe.

The DFO have been working jointly with the RCMP to minimize these crimes.

Most of the six charges laid since late March were associated with undersized lobsters and for fishing untagged traps.

Wolfe said the season, which ended May 31, brought some positive changes as well, with not as many harvesters apprehended fishing undersized lobster.

“The penalty for retaining small lobsters is increasing by the courts and becoming a great deterrent,” he said.

He added the word on the wharf is that many fish harvesters were throwing back many tinkers that will be a legal size for next season. He also said that harvesters were reporting that female seeded lobsters were being caught and released in very high numbers.

“That is one of the most important things,” said Wolfe. “It is key to a sustainable future. With the higher number of tinkers and seeded lobsters being released, I have a very positive outlook that the next season will be much better depending on the price of lobster.”