Two provincial cabinet ministers say that organized crime is “terrorizing” several local lobster fishing communities in southwestern Nova Scotia, due to poor federal enforcement.
Letters were sent to the Trudeau government last week by Fisheries Minister Kent Smith and Justice Minister Barbara Adams, requesting assitance and further collaboration in dealing with what they say is an increase in serious crime in the municipalities of Clare and Meteghan.
“I am hearing directly from fishers that have been threatened, that have had property damaged and that live in constant fear of repercussions for speaking out,” Smith told federal Fisheries Minister Diane Lebouthillier in a letter dated Aug. 22.
According to Smith, the inability of Lebouthillier’s department to prevent illegal activity, including out-of-season lobster fishing has “enabled and emboldened the growth of organized crime that is terrorizing the community.”
“Lack of action impacts public safety and the sustainability of our most valuable seafood resource. It also diverts tax revenues from both our governments that can be reinvested in our communities,” reads the letter.
While Smith does not name any specific group, he did order provincial inspections in Clare to be ramped up to ensure that provincial regulations relating to selling and purchasing illegal lobster are being upheld.
Smith also wanted to make a point to distinguish the work of front-line federal officers from that of the Trudeau government’s overall response, saying that they must be “adequately resourced and supported to do this difficult and extremely important job.”
“It’s a very serious issue,” he told Global News. “There’s some serious concerns for public safety in the region and when people are coming to me with really troubling stories then I feel like I have to do my job.”
Adams also sent a letter of growing concern to Lebouthillier the following day, telling her that the Nova Scotia justice department doubled the number of RCMP patrol officers in Clare from seven to 14, an effort that is being paid for by “the province of Nova Scotia.”
These additional general duties and investigative resources are in response to the “acute concerns of citizens,” noted Adams in her letter.
“I would like to add my support to minister Smith’s request to have our provincial and federal agencies work together to meaningfully address this issue in the Clare region,” she said.
The RCMP in Nova Scotia have reported a rise in violent crimes in the Meteghan area in recent months, including two incidents of shots being fired at a home, two arsons and the burning of a police vehicle
However, so far none of the incidents have been directly linked to the fishing industry.
Minister Lebouthillier’s office did not respond to True North’s request for comment.