During a significant operation last Friday, federal fisheries officers seized over 13,000 pounds of lobster from a Shelburne County, Nova Scotia facility. According to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), the seizure—valued at more than $100,000—marks the largest lobster confiscation in the Maritimes this year. The Maritimes is a regional designation for the Canadian provinces of Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. One individual has been arrested as part of an ongoing investigation under the Fisheries Act for maintaining a lobster pound without a proper license.

This latest enforcement effort comes amid growing concern over illegal fishing in southwestern Nova Scotia, where both commercial and First Nations fishermen have long been calling for answers. DFO officials, who executed the search under a court-issued warrant, also confiscated key documents and electronic records. The name of the facility and the person involved have not been released, according to CBC Canada.

Local commercial lobstermen have stated that they “have been prepared to take matters into their own hands” due to federal fishery officers who work for the DFO refusing to patrol certain areas due to ongoing threats. Fishermen in the region have declared it a poaching crisis, without more officers enforcing the Fishery Act, come the November lobster season, there will be a drastically low amount of lobsters left to catch.

Social media updates from DFO emphasize the department’s continued focus on regional enforcement. "Fishery officers have been taking enforcement measures ranging from compliance awareness to making arrests and seizing unauthorized catch, equipment, and vessels," a recent post stated. The agency is working closely with provincial partners to crack down on unauthorized lobster sales, particularly lobsters harvested without a commercial license.

Maritime locals and fishing groups have shared on Facebook comments following articles on the DFO, "In Canada, it's supposed to be one law applies to all, not laws depending on who you are..."

As tensions around fisheries management remain high, this seizure reinforces DFO’s commitment to preserving the sustainability of Atlantic Canada’s vital lobster stocks and ensuring fairness for those who follow the rules.