Fishery and border services officers seized about 109 kilograms of unauthorized elvers at the Toronto Pearson International Airport.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans says the elvers seized Wednesday evening are estimated to be worth between $400,000 and $500,000.

They were destined to be shipped overseas.

This comes after DFO announced in March that the elver fishery would not open this year in the Maritimes due to conservation and safety concerns.

In a release, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, Diane Lebouthillier says, “The magnitude of this elver seizure is an important development. It reflects all the work done by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, but also the team effort of a wide range of agencies and departments involved across government. Once again, our message is crystal clear: do not travel to Nova Scotia to illegally fish or export elvers this year, enforcement officers will be waiting for you.”