Fisheries and Oceans Canada seized a large quantity of glass eels from unauthorized fishing at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Wednesday evening.
The 109 kg of glass eels were intended to be shipped overseas, according to a press release issued by the Ministry, which collaborated with the Canada Border Services Agency in this investigation. The value of the fish, usually caught in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, is estimated between $400,000 and $500,000.
Last March, Fisheries and Oceans Canada announced that it would not grant glass eel fishing licenses this year, after noticing “huge quantities of glass eels being fished illegally, which compromises the conservation of the species.” .
The Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, Diane Lebouthillier, welcomed this announcement. “Once again, our message is perfectly clear: do not go to Nova Scotia to illegally fish or export glass eels this year, the authorities will be waiting for you,” she said.