Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray downplayed concerns over enforcement of elver poaching while speaking with reporters in Ottawa on Tuesday. Photo: CPAC.
Canada’s Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Joyce Murray, openly acknowledged on Tuesday that the elver fishery, a troubled baby eel fishery, had spiraled out of control during the spring season. Murray attributed the escalation to the presence of poachers who were enticed by the prospect of easy money.
In Ottawa, just outside Parliament, Murray addressed the issue, stating, “We initially had measures in place to regulate the elver fishery, but it became unmanageable due to the ease of fishing and the high value of the catch.”
Recognizing the escalating situation, Murray made the decision to close the fishery in mid-April, as an overwhelming number of unauthorized harvesters had flocked to rivers in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
These poachers specifically targeted the tiny, translucent eels during their migration from the ocean to freshwater. Elvers are highly sought after in Asian markets, where they fetch exorbitant prices per kilogram and are cultivated for consumption.
The influx of poachers not only jeopardized the conservation of the species but also posed safety risks to fishery officers, legitimate harvesters, and the general public. Incidents of intimidation, threats, and violence occurring during nighttime activities on the rivers were reported.
Accusations have been leveled against the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) by both commercial elver license holders and politicians, asserting that the department failed to take sufficient action to prevent illegal fishing, both prior to and after the issuance of a fisheries management order on April 15 that closed the commercial fishery.
However, Murray stressed that efforts to combat illegal fishing have yielded some positive outcomes. “Since the closure, we have made numerous arrests, dozens in fact, over the past few weeks. We have also confiscated over $1 million worth of the illicit product,” Murray confirmed.
Murray emphasized the collaboration between federal authorities, provincial law enforcement, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to address the issue effectively. Dismissing claims that enforcement was lacking, Murray asserted that such statements were unhelpful and undermined the collective efforts in place.
Earlier in the week, the DFO announced the seizure of 113 kilograms of elvers, valued at $500,000, following an inspection near Halifax on Friday.
