Lobster trucks delayed at U.S., Canada border

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia – Despite stepped-up surveillance for illegal lobster in Nova Scotia, trucks bound for the United States still face delays at the border.

“This is a live product, so delays are always a concern,” Denny Morrow, executive director of the Nova Scotia Fish Packers Association said Wednesday.

Some truckers report three- and four-hour delays at the St. Stephen, New Brunswick, to Calais, Maine, border crossing. The St. Stephen-Calais crossing is the most popular crossing for truckers headed to the U.S. and in particular to the Boston airport, where lobster is loaded onto international flights.

“Obviously, it is a huge problem when you have trucks delayed and flights missed,” said Morrow.

He said the weeks leading up to Christmas are important for Nova Scotia’s lobster industry, with shipments expected to exceed $70 million.

Morrow said U.S. authorities are strictly enforcing American conservation regulations and are likely continuing aggressive inspections because searches continue to yield “significant quantities” of illegal lobster, including undersized and egg-bearing crustaceans.

He said recent seizures of illegal lobster on both sides of the border indicate some lobster fishermen in Nova Scotia do not take Canadian conservation regulations seriously.

Ian Marshall, southwestern Nova Scotia director for Fisheries and Oceans Canada, said Wednesday a doubling of enforcement has resulted in a doubling in the number of charges laid recently for illegal lobster fishing, with 17 people charged since the season opened Nov. 27 and 47 written warnings issued.

“Inspectors have found up to 100 illegal lobsters in a catch,” said Marshall, adding that quantity far exceeds what would be considered unintended catch.

Peter Nelson, executive director of the Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association, said seasonal truckers carrying lobster and Christmas trees may be affected by border delays but that association members who operate year-round are not reporting problems.