Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) is warning unlicensed lobster harvesters that they could be charged if they assault or endanger fisheries enforcement officers, reports SaltWire News.
"Violence or harassment towards fishery officers will not be tolerated and will be reported to the appropriate police force, which could result in charges under the Criminal Code," reads a statement issued by the DFO on Friday (Oct. 4).
The department pointed to two recent incidents, one on Sept. 19, when DFO officers boarded a boat fishing out of Saulnierville in the province of Nova Scotia.
"Fisheries officers were subjected to an attempted assault while conducting routine at-sea enforcement activities," the DFO alleged.
Court records show that one person has been charged with assault with a weapon causing bodily harm, assaulting a peace officer and obstruction. They are scheduled to appear in provincial court in Digby on Nov. 18.
The vessel and its unauthorized lobster traps were seized and towed back to Meteghan. That night, the vessel was stolen from the wharf and steamed back to Saulnierville, where fisheries officers seized it again the following morning.
A second incident occurred on Sept. 25. DFO is investigating a potential charge of obstruction of a fishery officer, the department said in a statement.
As previously reported by Undercurrent News, tensions are high in the St. Mary's Bay area of Nova Scotia, home to the largest lobster fishery in Canada.
Lobster fishing areas (LFAs) 33 and 34 account for nearly a third of Canada's world-leading 100,000 metric tons in annual production of North American lobster (Homarus americanus).
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