Fishery officers release lobsters to ocean after making four arrests in Nova Scotia

The DFO seized undersized lobsters in Saulnierville, N.S. (Source: DFO Maritimes)

Officers with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) released more than 70 lobsters back into the ocean after arresting four people for allegedly fishing without authorization in Saulnierville, N.S.

Fishery officers made a wharfside inspection in the fishing community on May 31, according to a social media post from DFO Maritimes. They determined the suspected individuals possessed undersized lobster that were caught in contravention to the Fisheries Act.

The officers arrested four people and seized a vessel, 76 lobsters (46 of which were under the minimum legal size), 40 lobster traps and two crates.

The officers released the live lobsters back into the ocean.

“Enforcement of the minimum legal lobster carapace size in the fishery supports conservation because lobsters of legal size are likelier to have reproduced before they were fished,” the post reads.

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