For the second consecutive year, the legal elver fishery will remain closed in Canada as poaching concerns remain high.
Federal Fisheries Minister Diane Lebouthillier announced her decision to not issue licenses for the 2024 season in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in a statement shared by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans on Monday afternoon.
Elvers, also known as baby eels, are highly valued in some markets, particularly in East Asia, where they are considered a delicacy. The high demand for elvers can lead to significant profits for poachers who sell them on the black market.
In her decision, Minister Lebouthillier explained the fishery continues to face challenges -“including significant quantities of elvers being fished illegally, jeopardizing the conservation of the species”
Minister Lebouthillier also noted that DFO officers have faced threats and violence, with several confrontations and incidents that undermined the management of the fishery and public safety.
The closure aims to address conservation risks and restore orderly management of the fishery.
Anyone found in Nova Scotia or New Brunswick (where elvers are found in Canada) engaging in unauthorized elver harvesting will face enforcement action.
The Department will continue working on regulatory and management changes to ensure a safe and sustainable fishery, with a focus on cooperation, conservation, and orderly conduct.
In the meantime, legitimate elver fishers will be unable to operate, impacting an estimated 200 individuals who harvest elvers in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
Arrests made
Five people were recently arrested for elver poaching in southwest Nova Scotia.
The department of fisheries and oceans says it happened in separate incidents on March 6 and 7.
Over a kilogram of elver, two vehicles and equipment were seized.
DFO says they were all released but remain under investigation for infractions of the Fisheries Act.
The department adds their officers are patrolling rivers, facilities and export points to curb illegal activity.
They say violence will not be tolerated.
