![]() In 2020, Guang Da International, a lobster pound at New Edinburgh was convicted for purchasing lobster under an Indigenous licence, which bars selling the catch. In recent years, convictions under federal legislation for fish plants or owners involved in the lobster fishery have resulted in a number of provincial licence suspensions or terminations. Raising fine amounts in the provincial Act is a deterrent to illegal activity and ensures that the maximum fine if someone is charged provincially is significant," Alberstat said in a statement. "The federal government can fine up to $1,000,000 for an individual's first offence. The province says offenders convicted at the federal level cannot also be convicted by the province for the same offence. Recent convictions related to illegal buying, undisclosed sales or other infractions have resulted from federal investigations and charges. Provincial buyers and processor licence conditions require that purchased seafood be caught under federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans approved licences. It would not say how many were assigned to fishery cases. All are empowered to investigate commercial buyers or processors for violations under the Nova Scotia Fisheries and Coastal Resources Act. The province says the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables has 51 conservation officers. The minister has significant enforcement tools that he's chosen not to use, up to this point." What's more important is the department's will to enforce the law as it stands. "We're happy to see the announcement of the fine being increased. "I guess we would say what's the point of a large fine, if the province does not have the capacity to enforce the law," said Sproul, who is president of Unified Fisheries Conservation Alliance. Inshore fishermen's representative Colin Sproul says plenty of fish buyers are breaking the law but the province has too few resources to catch them. Shouts, scuffles and arrests in Nova Scotia over Indigenous lobster fishing."Our records indicate that in recent years no provincial court-issued fines of $100,000 have been levied against commercial buyers or processors for violations under the Nova Scotia Fisheries and Coastal Resources Act," spokesperson Joann Alberstat said in a statement. No record province has sought current maximum He did not say when the fine will increase from the current maximum of $100,000, which was introduced in 1999.Ĭraig was also asked how many times the $100,000 fine had been imposed, but he could not say. We need to be able to give the courts, and so on, the ability to fine up to $1 million. It's a cost of doing business - $100,000 is not enough. The decision to increase the penalty comes after complaints that unauthorized lobster from southwestern Nova Scotia is being sold through provincially licensed buyers.įisheries and Aquaculture Minister Steve Craig told reporters last week the current maximum is "not a deterrent. Nova Scotia's plan to raise the maximum fine for fish plants that purchase lobster out of season is being questioned, after officials admitted they cannot find evidence the current maximum has been imposed in the recent past.
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