July 10, 2022
An individual from #NS was sentenced to pay $16.5K for violations under Section 57(3) of the Atlantic Fishery Regulations for possession of lobster claw, tail or meat separated from the carapace and other violations of the Fisheries Act.
The individual will also be prohibited from fishing in Lobster Fishing Area 34 in May 2023, which is the last month of the season and a profitable time to fish.
During the inspection that led to the conviction, fishery officers found 345 lobster tails, 701 lobster claws, 19 undersized lobster and one berried female lobster aboard this individual’s vessel.
Removing lobster tails and claws prevents fishery officers from verifying that harvested lobster reached the minimum legal size.
Enforcement of the minimum legal lobster carapace size in the fishery supports conservation because lobsters of legal size are likely to have reproduced before they were fished.
The regulations related to the harvesting, buying, selling and/or possession of fish allow for a safe, orderly, and sustainable fishery for the benefit of all.
If you, or someone else, suspects illegal harvesting/fishing activity, please contact your local C&P Detachment, the 24-hour DFO hotline at 1-800-565-1633 or Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-8477 (T.I.P.S.).
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