c/o DFO Maritimes, Twitter.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) is increasing its efforts to address illegal lobster fishing in the Bay of Fundy by contracting a vessel to assist with gear inspections and enforcement.
Starting in January, the vessel will support officers as they patrol the waters between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, inspecting fishing equipment and seizing traps found to be in violation of the Fisheries Act.
The initiative is aimed at addressing concerns from commercial fishing crews about illegal activity during off-seasons when large-scale lobster harvesting is not permitted. Officers plan to conduct patrols three days a week, with each shift lasting up to 12 hours.
The initial contract for the vessel will cover January through March 2025, with an option to extend through to the spring of 2026. The patrols will operate throughout the Bay of Fundy, and the vessel must be able to dock at various ports in both Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
Illegal fishing operations have been an ongoing issue in the region, with federal estimates indicating that up to 30 percent of lobster catches in Atlantic Canada go unreported.
The contracted vessel will allow officers to lift and inspect trawls of up to 75 lobster traps. Any gear found to be in violation of the Fisheries Act may be seized and retained for investigations.
DFO has opened its request for proposals, seeking operators with vessels that meet the requirements for the contract. Bidding is set to close on December 19.
