A meeting between federal Conservative MPs and lobster fishers.
Illegal lobster fishing activity was the main topic, as it continues in the southwest part of the province.
West Nova MP Chris d’Entremont, South Shore/St. Margarets MP Rick Perkins and provincial Fisheries Minister Kent Smith took part.
d’Entremont says the local fishers want to maintain dialogue.
“It was a good opportunity for us to sit down and talk about it, understand the situation currently, and how we want future governments or the government itself to actually deal with it,” said d’Entremont.
He says poaching is threatening public safety and the sustainability of the industry.
d’Entremont adds they’ll continue to put pressure on Fisheries Minister Diane Lebouthillier to provide more enforcement.
“Fishers want the resource protected. Science is important, along with enforcement and reporting structures. We need a government that can protect the industry, not one group over another.”
Provincial minister Smith met with Lebouthillier in Ottawa earlier this month, and expressed disappointment, saying the federal minister brought nothing new to the table and blamed the illegal activity on unreported cash sales.
He says harvesters are being threatened, and continue to hear about a lack of enforcement on the water, which is a federal responsibility.
Lebouthillier says the feds stand ready to support the province in the elimination of cash sales.
She says she shares Smith’s concerns about violence, noting her department continues to provide significant enforcement on the water and on land.
