Two seafood companies in southwestern Nova Scotia are facing charges following a two-year investigation into unlawful lobster procurement, as reported by the province. Independent Fisheries Ltd. and 3329874 Nova Scotia Ltd. have been accused under the Fisheries and Coastal Resources Act. Each company has been charged with two offenses related to the purchase, sale, or possession of illegally caught fish and buying fish from an individual without a valid commercial fishing license. Additionally, 3329874 Nova Scotia Ltd. is facing an extra charge for trading fish products in Nova Scotia without the necessary license or exemption.
Independent Fisheries Ltd., in a statement to CBC News, has refuted any wrongdoing allegations and anticipates being cleared through the legal process. They emphasized the responsibility of third-party dealers to verify and accurately disclose the lobster’s origin before sale. Attempts to contact 3329874 Nova Scotia Ltd. for comment by CBC were unsuccessful.
The charges have not been proven in court, with hearings scheduled for November 12. The province confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and may result in further charges. Nova Scotia’s Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Kent Smith, highlighted the implementation of stricter penalties for fisheries-related offenses and reinforced enforcement of the act, underscoring the significance of protecting the lobster industry in the province.
Amidst these developments, Independent Fisheries is embroiled in a $10 million lawsuit filed by a group representing Maritimes commercial fishermen, alleging the company’s involvement in the transportation, processing, and sale of illegally caught lobster. Colin Sproul, President of the Unified Fisheries Conservation Alliance (UFCA), leading the lawsuit, emphasized the relevance of the recent charges to their legal action. The group independently investigated Independent Fisheries and other operators in St. Marys Bay, uncovering their alleged participation in an illicit lobster scheme.
Sproul revealed that UFCA was not consulted during the provincial investigation that led to the charges under the Fisheries and Coastal Resources Act. The lawsuit was initiated in November 2024, with subsequent legal disputes between Independent Fisheries and UFCA over disclosure of information necessary for defense preparations. Despite these legal challenges, Independent Fisheries affirmed its commitment to legal compliance in its official statement.
In summary, the seafood industry in Nova Scotia is currently under scrutiny due to alleged illegal lobster activities, with ongoing legal battles and investigations shaping the landscape for these two implicated companies.