Dartmouth, Nova Scotia - The Government of Canada is committed to sustainable and well-managed fisheries that support rural, coastal, and Indigenous communities. During the 2026 elver fishery, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) fishery officers worked across Southwest Nova Scotia, Eastern Nova Scotia, and Southwest New Brunswick to promote compliance and protect the integrity of this high-value fishery.
This year, licensed elver harvesters caught 8,385 kg of the 12,180 kg total allowable catch (TAC), up nearly 17% from 7,170 kg in 2025. The increased TAC created additional economic opportunities for harvesters while a portion of the quota supported joint scientific research between DFO and licence holders. More than 900 harvesters participated under First Nations licences.
Fishery officers maintained a strong presence throughout the season, providing education and outreach on fishing possession, export requirements, and the mandatory Elver Monitoring and Traceability application.
Where compliance could not be achieved through education, officers took enforcement action, issuing six summary offence tickets, making 33 arrests, and seizing elver harvesting and storage equipment for Fisheries Act violations. Officers also seized 77.208 kg of illegally harvested elver, which were returned live to their rivers of origin.
Working closely with the Canada Border Services Agency, fishery officers also disrupted unauthorized exports and seized over 305 kg of elver destined for international markets.
