Inshore scallop vessel arrested in area 29 for non-functional VMS

By Tina Comeau

SOU'WESTER

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans have arrested the captain of a 50-foot inshore scallop vessel in southwestern Nova Scotia – which is fishing in the disputed area 29 – for having a non-functioning vessel monitoring system (VMS) on board.

“It’s a requirement of their licence condition that they VMS be functioning at all times so we can tell where (the vessel) is,” DFO field supervisor Dan Fleck said Thursday afternoon as the seized vessel was being brought back to shore.

Fleck says without a functioning vessel monitoring system DFO has no way of knowing where a vessel is fishing and if they’re staying within confines of where they are supposed to be. A conviction usually attracts a monetary fine.

There has been a lot of attention focused on scallop area 29 since the fishery opened on Monday. Lobster fishermen have been staging a protest in the Barrington area. They claim scallop rakes being dragged on the ocean floor are damaging lobsters.

The arrested vessel had 58 bags of scallops on board.

“We’ll off load the scallops and sell the scallops, and we’re going to do a little bit of investigating on board and then the vessel will be released,” said Fleck. “The vessel will not be able to return to scallop fishing until their vessel monitoring system is fully operational or functional.”

Meanwhile, Fleck said DFO officers have been out on the water since the fishery opened earlier this week.

“We’re out there constantly, day and night, just monitoring and making sure everybody is where they’re supposed to be and making sure there is no bycatch of lobster and that everybody is abiding by the rules and regulations,” he said.