DFO to increase year-round lobster gear monitoring in Bay of Fundy
Fisheries officers will soon have a contracted vessel to haul, check and seize illegal traps
Enforcement officers with the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans will soon have a new tool to lift, check and seize illegal lobster fishing gear from the waters between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
The department is seeking a crew and vessel that would be contracted to take DFO officers on patrols to inspect fishing equipment.
The patrol work isn't new, but this contract represents an increase in surveillance and enforcement in an area where the fishing industry has called on officers to do more to deter illegal fishing operations.
"Charter vessels have been used in this area in the past to augment other assets used to haul and inspect gear," said DFO spokesperson Megan Gallant in an email.
"The purpose of this vessel is to provide additional support to fishery officers as they conduct patrols and inspections, primarily in the Bay of Fundy."
12-hour shifts, 3 days a week
According to a request for proposals published online last week, DFO hopes to be out on the water three days a week for at least 12 hours per patrol.
The contract is set to span January to March 2025, but can be extended through to spring 2026.
That would mean patrols would happen outside of commercial fishing seasons when industrial-scale lobster harvesting shouldn't be occurring. This may help address calls from fishing crews who say there has been insufficient enforcement during the commercial off-season.
The contracted vessel would be responsible for patrolling throughout the Bay of Fundy and "be able to berth at various ports in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia," according to the documents published online.
Checking gear, seizing if necessary
The vessel will help officers lift, inspect and return trawls of up to 75 pots or traps. If equipment is found in violation of the Fisheries Act, it could be seized.
"Any time fishing gear is seized, officers may retain the items to complete investigation work," said Gallant.
"Once an investigation is complete and the evidence is no longer required to be in the department's custody, traps may be released back to their owners."
The request for proposals for the vessel is open for bids until Dec. 19.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I wonder if the DFO will be well armed or will they bring the RCMP/GRC along
"The department is seeking a crew and vessel that would be contracted to take DFO officers on patrols "
DFO doesn't have their own ships? What a hoot.
Miles Haukeness
Reply to Jay Mack
DFO has lots of ships here in Saskatchewan. Maybe Nova Scotia/NB should get some of their own.
Reply to Jay Mack
Welcome to the circus
Reply to David Amos
Candy apples and cotton candy available for the show.
The word "charges" seems to be severely lacking in DFO's statements.
Reply to Tom Campbell
Yup
Enforce the law.,,,no exceptions for anyone.
Art Rowe
Reply to Jamie Smith
I don't get the idea of returning illegal gear to the 'offender' when investigation finished.
If the gear is there illegally or not in compliance, investigate, charge the offender and destroy the gear.
Returning the illegal gear will just guarantee that it will be used again.
Reply to Jamie Smith
Some of these "treaties" need to be revisited.
Oh there will be exceptions for one group. The Current government and DFO have already made this known.
Reply to Jay Mack
Haven't you already got what you wanted, Jay? People like you already deny they are relevant much to the chagrin of the rest of us who believe in treaties, respect, and human rights.
Reply to Anthony Gracey
Putting the word treaties in quotation marks speaks volumes.
Reply to Mike Flanders
Mike, agreed 100%.
Reply to Jamie Smith
I second that emotion
Reply to Jay Mack
"Treaties need to be revisited"
Not really, but they do have to be enforced, i.e. the Donald Marshall Supreme Court decision, which was revisited, and it was found the the federal government has the power to enforce fisheries regulation, including limits and seasonal regulations, for everybody, NO EXCEPTIONS, as in 2020, then Federal Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan said:
" ..... I am in communication with First Nations leadership ..... “Until an agreement is reached with DFO, there cannot be a commercial fishery outside the commercial season. … Fishing without a licence is a VIOLATION UNDER THE FISHERIES ACT and anyone fishing outside the activities authorized under a licence may be subject to enforcement action ..... "
Enforcement is not something DFO is doing, not for natives nor for various others. We need another Brian Tobin, before the fish have disappeared.
Reply to John Raymond
Exactly. One particular group is given free reign to do as they please without consequences.
Reply to Sebastian Leblanc
Which group is that?
Reply to Art Rowe
Good Idea...Think about this....
Why do they return the car to driver if he/she is convicted of a DUI offense ??
Destroy the car so it can be used again....What say you ?
Good Day....
I would like some eager reporter to dig into the taxpayer costs related to managing, policing and fostering this industry.
David Sampson
Reply to Kevin MacDonald
What might be more interesting is to identify the costs of doing nothing to manage, police and foster the fishery!
Reply to Kevin MacDonald
Somehow your reply to me and my response have been deleted. That’s unfortunate.
Reply to David Sampson
I think we were taking the conversation too far off track into reality. cheers buddy
Reply to Kevin MacDonald
Dream on
One of the main reasons liberals performed so poorly in the last provincial elections is the incredibly poor performance of DFO in its primary responsibility of regulating the fishery. The last three federal Ministers of Fisheries were simply not up to the job!
David Amos
Reply to David Sampson
The liberals won the last provincial election and the last 3 federal ones as well remember?
Reply to David Amos
I am very much aware David. For specific information on how Harper conducted himself on fisheries issues check out this from a former conservative Minister of Fisheries.
https://elizabethmaymp.ca/conservative-fisheries-ministers-condemned-harpers-gutting-of-the-fisheries-act/
Reply to David Amos
Indeed. I am very much aware of that fact David. Conservative Ministers of Fisheries didn’t do any better.
https://elizabethmaymp.ca/conservative-fisheries-ministers-condemned-harpers-gutting-of-the-fisheries-act/
Reply to David Sampson
Remember me versus Keith Ashfield???
Reply to David Amos
No doubt some folks in Norway still do
Reply to David Amos
Obviously Diane Lebouthillier and I are still going at it today eh?
No comments:
Post a Comment