Officers seize roughly $170K of illegally fished halibut in Louisbourg: DFO

The fishing vessel where DFO officers allegedly seized illegally harvested halibut is pictured. (Courtesy of DFO)

Fishery officers seized 17,834 pounds of halibut worth roughly $170,000 from a vessel in Louisbourg, N.S., on July 9.

According to a social media post from Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Canada, the vessel “was fishing longline illegally within the St. Anns Bank Marine Protected Area.”

Regulations of the protected area, east of Cape Breton Island, prohibit any activities that disturb, damage or remove living marine organisms or any part of their habitat.

Scientific surveys have recorded more than 100 species in the area with a variety of habitat types.

The captain of the vessel also allegedly obstructed fishery officers and refused to haul in the catch, in violation of the Fisheries Act.

The captain was arrested and an investigation is underway.

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