For more information on Owner Operator, CLICK HERE.
For more information on Lack of Enforcement, CLICK HERE.
For more information on MPAs in Canada, CLICK HERE.
For Generations, We Have Fished — Let’s Make Sure the Next Can Too.
The fishery isn't just a job, it's our way of life. If DFO continues down this path, we risk losing the fishing industry, the coastal communities that depend on it, and the next generation of local seafood.
We need the public to know what is at stake.
We need decision-makers to step up.
We need a future for our fisheries.
Why Is Our Fishery in Danger? It’s Not the Ocean — It’s Ottawa.
Most people think the lobster fishery is thriving — boats are on the water, seafood’s on the menu, and tourism is booming. But beneath the surface, our fishery is in serious trouble. And it’s not because of climate change or declining stocks — it’s because of government inaction and mismanagement.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) is legally responsible for the orderly management of the fishery, as stated in the Fisheries Act.
What is the Fisheries Act?
The Fisheries Act is the federal legislation or law that governs how Canada manages its fisheries to ensure fish stocks are protected and the industry is managed fairly and sustainably. It includes regulations about licensing, conservation, enforcement, and protecting independent fish harvesters.
Existing laws and policies are not being properly enforced. Here's what's really happening on the water:
What’s Going Wrong
Owner-Operator: Ignored by DFO
The Fisheries Act includes key protections for owner-operators—independent fish harvesters who own and operate their boats. These policies are meant to keep corporate control out of inshore fisheries and ensure that local coastal communities, not large offshore companies or foreign ownership, benefit from Canada’s natural resources.
These protections are being ignored. In 2024, the federal government allocated redfish quota to offshore draggers and cod quota to corporate offshore fleets, bypassing local independent harvesters. Offshore draggers have more of an impact on fish stocks and ecosystems. This shift increases fishing pressure while stripping economic opportunity from coastal communities.
The erosion of owner-operator protections in Atlantic Canada echoes what has already happened on our West Coast, where consolidation and corporate control have made it almost impossible for independent harvesters to survive. We are deeply concerned that the same is now unfolding here in Atlantic Canada.
Some News articles highlighting some of these issues, see below:
June 3, 2024: CBC "Redfish allocations take community-driven fishery out of harvesters' hands, FFAW says"
July 10, 2024: CBC "Newfoundland fish harvesters crash news conference to demand reinstating of cod moratorium"
September 11, 2024: CBC "Ottawa still hasn't learned to choose science over politics in the cod fishery, says Gerry Byrne"
April 1, 2025: CBC "Judge says DFO acted unfairly in coming to 2023 elver quota decision"
No Enforcement =
Illegal Fishing Thrives
In 2024 Conservation and Protection (C&P) fisheries officers filed a refusal to work order, citing unsafe conditions and a lack of support, budget, and resources from the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans. The very officers tasked with protecting our fisheries are being sidelined and illegal fishing is booming as a result.
Seasons for a reason.
Fishing seasons are grounded in conservation and science and are meant to protect spawning cycles, stabilize market conditions, and support long-term sustainability. When DFO fails to enforce those seasons, the result is a black market for out-of-season lobster. This unregulated harvest undermines conservation efforts, weakens legal in-season markets, and puts honest and legal harvesters at a serious disadvantage.
Without proper enforcement the law becomes meaningless. As a result, illegal lobster are entering the market unchecked, fish stocks are being put at risk, and communities that rely on legal, sustainable harvests are suffering.
DFO not prosecuting violations.
There’s little to no follow-through on those who break the rules. This creates a two-tiered system — one for honest, licensed harvesters following the law, and another for those operating outside it with no consequences, leading to growing lawlessness on our rivers and oceans.
Some News articles highlighting some of these issues, see below:
July 11, 2023: CBC "DFO says it has enough resources to monitor Indigenous lobster fishing in Nova Scotia"
September 14, 2024: CTV "New Brunswick fishermen fill St. Andrews Wharf Saturday as they call for change on the water"
September 25, 2024: CBC "Lobster fishing industry reps remain concerned about illegal fishing"
October 4, 2024: CTV "'Pattern' of violence, threats against federal fisheries officers in Maritimes: DFO"
April 23, 2025: Global News "‘People have almost died’: Soaring N.S. lobster fishing tensions revealed"
MPA’s Could Shut Down
Our Inshore Fishery
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are being proposed across Southwest New Brunswick, Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore and the Southern Coast of Newfoundland. Specific areas of interest locally include critical fishing areas around the Fundy Isles. While conservation matters, these MPAs are being pushed through without scientific validation or protections for traditional, sustainable fisheries like lobster, scallop, and groundfish.
Inshore fishing associations have raised serious concerns from the risk of losing access to key grounds, to unequal rules, and the lack of enforcement or science behind the designations. Fundy North has submitted a list of essential issues that must be addressed, and industry has not seen any commitment from DFO to provide solutions.
We’ve seen what happens when this process is ignored — just look at the west coast. In British Columbia, MPAs combined with corporate takeovers, have helped decimate independent fisheries. That cannot happen here.
We need MPAs that protect ecosystems without destroying communities. Without transparency, science, Independent Harvester support, and clear understanding of what is being protected, these MPAs risk becoming coastal no-go zones that serve government checkboxes, instead of the people who live and work here.
Some News articles highlighting some of these issues, see below:
July 28, 2011: Global News "Protected spaces not stemming loss of biodiversity on land, water, report says"
November 4, 2021: CBC "Feds hit 'reset button' on marine protected areas in N.S., N.B."
May 11, 2024: CBC "DFO seeks to reassure fishermen after 'scary' map released of potential protected areas"
This Isn’t About Politics.
It’s About Survival.
We’re not against regulation — we’re against mismanagement. We believe in conservation, sustainability, and working with government. But when existing legislation is not enforced and harvesters are left in the dark, the result is chaos — not order.
