The president of a lobster fishermen’s group in South Western Nova Scotia says he’s pleased with comments from a senior official with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in regards to the illegal lobster fishery.
Morley Knight, assistant deputy Minister with DFO told fishermen gathered for the 2nd annual South West Nova Scotia Lobster Forum in Yarmouth yesterday that there are “clear indications” of abuse in the First Nations food, social and ceremonial lobster fishery taking place this summer in St. Marys Bay.
Knight said the department has responded to complaints about the situation by increasing inspections, patrols and surveillance.
Bernie Berry of the Coldwater Lobster Association says he was encouraged by what the assistant deputy minister had to say.
He says it appears DFO is finally listening to what fishermen have been telling them for some time.
“There is a fringe element from some people in First Nations, and not many but a fringe element, along non-natives and along with buyers, that’s participating in this illegal , poaching, commercial operation, and we think that is where a lot of these lobsters are coming from. ”
Berry stresses that fishermen respect the right of Aboriginal fishermen to engage in a fishery for food, ceremonial and social purposes.
He says it is the illegal sale of those lobsters that they are opposed to over concerns for lobster stocks.
Recently at least a dozen locations in Digby County have been identified as dumpsites for lobsters allegedly caught illegally.
“There’s no concern for any kind of conservation” Berry says. “A lot of the lobsters were so soft that the bands appeared to be going through the claws. Small lobsters, seeded lobsters. Just a mess. What we’re hoping is that DFO and the other authorities can crack down on this. They must crack down on this.”
