Bruinawse
runswick
LUIBhK

May 5, 2023
Honourable Joyce Muay
Minister
Fahares and Oceans Canada
200 Kent Sree
Ottawa, ON K1A 0E6
Minister Joyce Murray,
You will be aware that the elver is a species under pressure, and that consequently the
extremely important elver fishery requires great care in management by you and your
Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Canada.
You ordered this fishery closed in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick April 15, and prohibited
anyone fishing for eels that are less than 10 cm in length. However, dozens of poachers have
been harvesting elvers before and since the closure, observed and documented by witnesses
and reported on by media, and this activity is escalating daily this week. Unfortunately, it
appears this activity is unattended by DFO personnel. This is despite calls to DFO, by licenced
fishers, local witnesses and even a Member of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick.
Closing this fishery but failing to assign resources to ensure compliance and ‘consequence
poachers is a recipe for disaster. It risks the imminent devastation of this resource, increases
tension and materially increases the risk of violence in fishing communities.
1 am advised by officials that New Brunswick's Department of Justice and Public Safety (JPS)
heard late Wednesday aftemoon from DFO officers, finally looking for assistance and support in
organizing and executing an enforcement operation. JPS officers stand ready to assist and
support, the provincial police force understand the importance of its being ready to assist should
it be required.

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Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries | Agriculture, Aquaculture et Péches www.gnb.ca

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Honourable Joyce Murray
May 5, 2023
Page 20f 2
Please intervene in this matter and impress upon your department the importance and urgency
of acting within hours, not days, to address this matter.
Looking forward to confirmation of an immediate and effective response.
MIPE
Kaan
Margaret Johnson
Minister
©. Blaine M. Higgs, Premier of New Brunswick
Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and
Communities
Honourable Mike Holland, Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Development
Honourable Kris Austin, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General