Drug investigation near Digby instead yields nearly $50K worth of juvenile eels

Last week, an RCMP raid in southwest Nova Scotia led to an unexpected discovery. While investigators were searching for drugs, they stumbled upon almost $50,000 worth of juvenile eels being stored illegally at a home in Plympton, just 20 kilometers southwest of Digby, N.S.

According to an RCMP spokesperson, the raid was part of a drug trafficking investigation, but no drugs were found during the search. Instead, officers found the tiny eels, also known as elvers, along with some illegal tobacco. Fisheries officers were called in, and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans seized 30 kilograms of elvers.

This seizure is just one of many that authorities have made in recent weeks. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has been actively enforcing regulations in the elver fishery, which has been plagued by unauthorized harvesting in recent years. The demand for elvers in Asia, where they are raised in aquaculture facilities for food, has driven rampant illegal fishing in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick rivers.

In an effort to bring the fishery under control, DFO introduced new regulations to halt the sale and export of illegally caught elvers. As of Sunday, DFO reported that officers have conducted over 900 riverside inspections, as well as inspections at holding facilities and airports, resulting in dozens of arrests.

Despite these efforts, there has been criticism from commercial license holders who feel that fisheries officers are not responding adequately to reports of unauthorized fishing. Stanley King, with Atlantic Elver, raised concerns about ongoing unauthorized fishing in rivers like the Ingram River and the East River near Chester, N.S.

While DFO spokesperson Debra Buott-Matheson stated that over 70 arrests have been made this elver season for fisheries violations, she also noted a decrease in violence compared to previous years. However, King mentioned that there have still been heated arguments between commercial fishermen and those without DFO authorization along riverbanks.

With more than 140 rivers in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick designated for elver fishing, DFO has brought in additional officers from other regions to help with enforcement. The department emphasized that they do follow up on reports of illegal fishing, but due to the large number of rivers, they may not be able to respond immediately.

Overall, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans is working diligently to enforce regulations and combat illegal fishing in the elver fishery. Despite challenges, officers are using both overt and covert means to monitor activity and ensure the sustainability of this valuable fishery.