Before and since taking action against two commercial crab vessels in late March and early April, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has received multiple complaints from Savary Island residents that the same boats are continuing to operate and a depletion in crab stock is noticeable, according to fisheries officials.
Six weeks ago, with the assistance of Canadian Coast Guard vessel M. Charles, fisheries officers seized more than 300 traps from the crab fishers around the Savary area. Charges have not been laid in a subsequent investigation into alleged regulation violations.
When the traps were seized over two weekends, Fisheries and Oceans anticipated charges would be laid in May on numerous counts in violation of the Fisheries Act. Owners of the boats face serious fines for over-crabbing and, in the case of one boat, the owner could face penalties for turning off its catch-monitoring system.
According to DFO officer Matt Conley, public surveillance and reporting does not help in the ongoing investigation because the crab fishery is electronically monitored and the fisheries department can track each vessel’s catch. Nothing since Fisheries and Oceans seized the gear indicates the vessels are in violation of the act, said Conley.
“Just because you see a crab trap doesn’t mean they’re doing it illegally,” said Conley.
Commercial crab licences were not suspended and nothing in the act prevents the two separate owners, vessel masters and crews from acquiring new gear and continuing to crab, as long as they follow regulations, he added.
The crabbers are alleged to have been hauling their gear more than once a week, according to the fisheries department. Commercial crabbers are only allowed one turnover of their traps once per week between January 15 and April 15 every year.
Additionally, and of particular importance to some residents, is damage done to private buoys in the area of the Savary Island wharf, according to island resident Dave Reid.
“Commercial crabbers lay trap lines through private buoys, causing more dragging and entangling moorings that set private boats adrift and cause collisions,” said Reid.
Private buoy regulations are the jurisdiction of Transport Canada, not Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
The placement of moorings is covered by Private Buoy Regulations and the Mooring Systems Order under the Navigation Protection Act, according to Transport Canada senior media relations advisor Marie-Anyk Côté.
“Transport Canada has not received any complaints about these moorings,” said Côté. “Actions that result in damage to someone's property as described would be a civil matter.”
