December 4, 2014 — As the first week of the annual six-month lobster season in southwestern Nova Scotia draws to a close, federal fishery officers are investigating a dozen boats said to have left port early when the season opened Saturday.
In the Yarmouth and Digby area, eight boats are being investigated for allegedly leaving port before the 6 a.m. start time, said Dwayne Surette, with Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
The prescribed start time is to allow boats to head out to sea at the same time.
More than 1,500 lobster boats along the South Shore, from Halifax around to Digby, began fishing Saturday and will continue to May 31.
“Some (boats) were caught while officers were on the water,” said Surette.
“Our fixed-wing aircraft also spotted some.”
In western Shelburne County, a few boats are also said to have left the wharf too soon.
“We have four under investigation for leaving early,” said Mark Comley, an investigator with Fisheries and Oceans Canada in Barrington.
Read the full story at the Chronicle Herald