Americans join the illegal fishing of Canadian lobster as feds appear to abandon enforcement

In Canadian waters off New Brunswick, unregulated lobster poaching and fishing activities are surging, with hundreds of thousands of pounds of lobster being landed daily by dozens of vessels, especially from government-owned wharves in southwest Nova Scotia, ahead of the commercial season. This illegal activity includes cross-border poaching from Maine, a First Nations fishery, and non-rights-holding poachers, exacerbated by the absence of Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) enforcement patrols due to perceived lack of support from senior DFO management and the federal Fisheries Minister, Diane Lebouthillier. Local fishery leaders have reported threats, property damage, and an increase in organized crime to the minister, who has been criticized for her slow response times and perceived lack of collaboration with the province. DFO officers have refused to work due to a lack of support and face potential danger, leading to calls for better resources and quicker responses from the federal government. The situation highlights the growing lawlessness in the region and the need for increased enforcement and support for local fisheries.