Nova Scotia’s Fisheries Minister, Steve Craig, intends to increase the fine of purchasing out-of-season lobster to $1 million dollars.

It comes as tension rise in Southwestern Nova Scotia, over the issue, amid complaints from politicians and commercial fishers that lobster poaching is increasing in St. Mary’s Bay.

Minister Steve Craig says the current fine of $100,000 is not a deterrent.  He told reporters even $1 million won’t stop it, but at least it’s a consequence of substance.

Tensions reached a peak there in 2020 as Indigenous fishers began their own moderate livelihood lobster fishery.

The provincial opposition wants the Houston government to be more involved.

Leader Zach Churchill says it’s not just up to the feds to enforce the rules.

“When we (the Liberals) were in power, we had a zero tolerance for commercial purchasing of illegal lobster. If you did that, you lost your license. The provincial government has stepped back from that,’ said Churchill.

He says the province needs to work with DFO to deal with this situation, or things will get volatile again.

In a statement to our newsroom, the provincial department of fisheries says enforcement of commercial fish buying is done through conservation officers with the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables, who report violations and conduct inspections.

The province says they’ve encouraged the federal government and Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia to continue the dialogue on moderate livelihood fisheries.

The federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans say they’ve seized 464 traps in St. Mary’s Bay this summer and released the lobster back into the ocean.

Last week, local opposition MP’s called on the federal Fisheries Minister to increase enforcement.