‘Pattern’ of violence, threats against federal fisheries officials in Maritimes Achi-News

HALIFAX – The federal Department of Fisheries says it is concerned about a “pattern” of violence and threats toward its enforcement officers after two tense incidents off southwestern Nova Scotia last month.

In a press release on Friday, the department referred to the September 19 case in Bay St. Marys when fisheries officers faced “an attempted attack while carrying out routine enforcement activities at sea.” Investigators said they arrested and seized the vessel and unauthorized lobster traps, and referred the investigation into the attack to the RCMP.

The statement also said that fisheries officers attempted to board and inspect a vessel in St. John’s Bay. Marys on 25 September but that the operator tried to avoid them, leading to a collision between the two boats.

RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Guillaume Tremblay said officers laid charges of obstructing and assaulting a police officer against a 27-year-old man in the September 19 case, but concluded that no crime occurred in the September 25 incident.

The public prosecution service said in an email that Jason Douglas Francis of Yarmouth, NS, is due to be arraigned on November 18 in Digby provincial court to face charges of obstruction, assault with a weapon and assaulting a police officer in relation to the month September. 19 cases.

The Department of Fisheries did not respond to emails requesting more details about the incidents, and the RCMP also declined to provide further details.

Meanwhile, some officers have refused to participate in enforcement duties, making a claim under the Canada Labor Code that their work is too dangerous. A government source with knowledge of the refusal-to-work requests told The Canadian Press that about half of the field officers in southwestern Nova Scotia – home to the region’s most profitable lobster fishery – are not performing enforcement duties in the field because of the security concerns.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the risk of employment retaliation, said that the work has become more violent as fishermen are increasingly reluctant to accept the authority of officers. He also said tensions with some Indigenous fishermen were rising.

Doug Wentzell, regional manager of the federal Department of Fisheries, confirmed to the Marinetimes in a recent interview that “a number of officers” have refused field work and that his department is going through a process of reviewing the safety concerns under the provisions of the Canada Labor Code. .

The civil service manager said despite the refusals “the majority of our officers are in the field in the region” and the department is bringing in officers from other regions.” He estimated that there are about 100 field officers in the Maritimes region, which includes the southern and eastern shores of Nova Scotia and the coast of the Bay of Fundy in that province and New Brunswick.

Nova Scotia’s fisheries and aquaculture minister said he recently met with Diane Lebouthillier, federal fisheries minister, “on the serious issue of illegal lobster fishing,” asking her department to step up enforcement.

“We have repeatedly called on the federal Department of Fisheries to address the illegal and out-of-season lobster harvesting in the Clare region and surrounding communities in southwestern Nova Scotia,” Kent wrote. Smith, a progressive Conservative member of the Eastern Shore legislature.

“The potential for this issue to get worse is real. Our communities need clear and decisive action, and we need it now. I have heard directly from fishermen who have been threatened, had their property damaged, and live in constant fear of repercussions for speaking out,” he said.

This report was first published by The Canadian Press on October 4, 2024.

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