New regulations that came into effect on March 1 are designed to strengthen the elver fishery in Nova Scotia.
According to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), the new rules require elver fishing and possession licence holders to submit reports to help manage the movement of elvers within the export supply chain. These regulations apply to both domestic and foreign-caught elvers.
“The Government of Canada is delivering on its promise to have an orderly and sustainable elver fishery this year. The new regulations that we introduced have enabled this lucrative fishery to be open this season to licensed harvesters, and give our fishery officers new tools to reduce unlawful harvesting,” said the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.
The total allowable catch for the 2025 season is set at 9,960 kilograms, the same as in 2022 and 2023. In a move to support rights-based fishing for a moderate livelihood, 50 per cent of the TAC has been redistributed to First Nations, based on population size. DFO is consulting with licence holders to finalize the opening date for the season in the coming weeks.
The elver fishery primarily takes place in Southwest New Brunswick, the Upper Bay of Fundy, Southwest Nova Scotia, the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia, and portions of Cape Breton Island.
