In a fisheries management order prohibiting the fishing of elvers issued on April 15, Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Minister Joyce Murray, stated, “Conflict on the water between harvesters has escalated to threats of violence and the safety of harvesters is at risk, which constitutes a threat to the proper management and control of the fishery.”

Last week, DFO held a press conference detailing the implementation of Indigenous lobster fisheries; the moderate livelihood and the food, social and ceremonial (FSC) fisheries, both of which are practiced in Chedabucto Bay. In light of the recent difficulty policing the elver fishery, The Journal asked if the department had the budget and bodies to effectively enforce these new fisheries.

Tim Kerr, DFO director of Conservation and Protection (CNP), Maritimes Region, replied, “They [elver and lobster] are two very different fisheries in the way they are executed… the lobster fisheries are conducted out on the water, with individuals out on lobster boats…whereas the elver fishery is done in a different circumstance, in rivers of which there are many across the province [Nova Scotia] and New Brunswick. So, a very different enforcement scenario.”

Kerr went on to say the department was well-equipped to enforce the FSC and the commercial moderate livelihood lobster fisheries with officers on the water and on the wharves educating harvesters on licence requirements and doing inspections.

“In terms of our capability to adequately monitor compliance of lobster fishermen under the FSC licence this summer, I can ensure that CNP has resources to do that effectively,” said Kerr.