Sipekne'katik fishing vessels at the Saulnierville Wharf on Monday, August 16th, 2021 (Y95 News Photo)
It’s been a busy week for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in St. Mary’s Bay.
Debbie Buott-Matheson with the Communications branch of DFO says 90 traps have been seized for a variety of reasons, including improperly tagged traps and unauthorized tags, and over 500 lobster have been released.
Buott-Matheson says further details cannot be provided, as the seizures are part of active investigations.
The Sipekne’katik First Nation launched a self-regulated treaty lobster fishery on Monday from the Saulnierville wharf, and DFO immediately established a presence.
In a statement Monday, DFO confirmed officers were on the water and at the wharves in the area providing education, conducting inspections and enforcing the Fisheries Act.
Sipekne’katik Chief Mike Sack was arrested by DFO officers Monday, but was later released.
Before the arrest, Sack said if DFO seized the band’s traps, the fishers will put in new ones and fight in court for the others.
He says they plan to keep fishing and exercise their treaty rights.
