A shipment of 109kg of elvers about to be shipped out of the country have been intercepted at Toronto airport.
The elvers seized at Toronto Pearson International Airport by officers from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) are estimated to have a value of between $400,000 and $500,000. An investigation is now underway.
This seizure is the result of a coordinated operation involving officers from DFO’s Conservation & Protection Directorate and National Fisheries Intelligence Service, in cooperation with the CBSA Commercial Operations District and intelligence teams.
On 11th March, DFO announced that the elver fishery would not open this year due to conservation and safety concerns. Any individual caught fishing for elvers will face enforcement actions under the Fisheries Act and the Maritime Provinces Fishery Regulations.
‘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,’ said Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and Canadian Coast Guard.
‘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.’
Since 6th March this year, there have been 149 arrests related to elver enforcement measures, 23 vehicles have been seized, as have 152 fyke nets and 283 dip nets.
