Tensions between fishery officers in Nova Scotia and their federal employer, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), reached a breaking point in July last year when 35 officers filed a work refusal due to inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE). A rare glimpse into the situation shows that officers were facing threats such as being shot at, subjected to violence, encountering individuals with long guns, and being asked if they were willing to die for their jobs. This was primarily linked to organized crime rings involved in unauthorized lobster fishing that have caused violence and chaos in the fishing communities of Nova Scotia.
Violence and poaching have also affected the lucrative baby eel fishery in Nova Scotia, leading to its shutdown and early closure in 2023. Eels, also known as elvers, are fished in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Maine and shipped live to Asia, where they can fetch up to $5,000 per kilogram. The situation with the fishery officers escalated, leading to a standoff mainly fought among bureaucracies behind closed doors, with enforcement caught in the middle. The industry insiders reveal that the violence in Nova Scotia waters has continued to intensify, indicating a much larger issue within the fishing industry beyond the specific dispute with the fishery officers.
After months of disputes and work refusals, fishery officers in Nova Scotia returned to work in October following intervention from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), which ordered DFO to take immediate action to protect its staff. The DFO, however, did not specify what protection measures were provided. The Maritimes Region, covering parts of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, plays a significant role in Canada’s commercial fisheries, with a landed value exceeding $1.64 billion. This lucrative haul has made the region a hotspot for violent crime, with fishery officers struggling to maintain control over unregulated fishing, assaults, and tensions with Indigenous fishers.
An 837-page collection of documents released to Global News on the DFO work refusals shed light on the situation, including a tense meeting where officers and DFO bosses discussed the refusal based on safety concerns. The refusing officers claimed that the DFO had not conducted a fair investigation, ignored threats against officers, and failed to provide adequate PPE. Despite previous incidents, including slashed tires and near-death experiences, the officers only received vindication from ESDC in August when the senior investigator confirmed that heavily-armed criminals posed a risk to their lives and ordered DFO to take corrective action.
The DFO appeared to be aware of the risks faced by their front-line officers, as demonstrated in documents outlining efforts to support officers’ occupational health and safety concerns. Efforts included reality-based training, body-worn camera programs, and training for encountering long guns and drug paraphernalia. Industry insiders argued that these measures were insufficient and reflected the chaos and lack of clear rules within the fishing industry. The continued conflict and violence, as well as the reluctance of authorities to enforce laws, have exacerbated the situation, with chaos prevailing and violence against those who speak out against it.
Efforts to regain control over the fishing industry in Nova Scotia, including the elver industry, have been challenging, with Ottawa introducing new rules for licensing and quota allocation. However, several First Nations have rejected these plans, indicating the complexity and resistance within the industry. Industry insiders argue that the government has largely given up on enforcing laws, and even law enforcement agencies such as the RCMP are often reluctant to intervene. The situation remains unstable, with fishers resorting to protective gear and weapons, and confusion surrounding the boundaries and regulations within the fishing industry persists.
