Ottawa Boosts Elver Catch Limit, Supports First Nations

0:00It's March 25, Vancouver news today starts now, AI-powered and ready. I'm Cory with the story. Ottawa has raised the allowable catch for young American eels, called Elvers, by 22% this year. The new limit sits at 12,180 kg, based on signs of a healthy population and a calm fishing season last year in Nova. Scotia and New Brunswick. The fishery faced a full shutdown in 2024, after illegal catches sparked violence and arrests amid sky-high prices that once hit five. Thousand dollars per kilogram. Federal officials rolled out stricter possession and export rules to get things under control. Meanwhile, this year Ottawa is shifting 50% of the quota from non-indigenous commercial fishers to first nation's groups starting out, aiming. To support a moderate livelihood for them, some commercial fishers argue the setup falls apart when certain first nations skip the rules. Critics like Stanley King, who manages the Atlantic Elver fishery, say the fishery's department still drops the ball on illegal fishing though.

1:04Officials push back on that claim. The increase draws from fresh science on one Nova Scotia River. Come April 1st, nets will scoop up the live eels for shipment to Asia's aquaculture farms, wrapping up another step in tighter fishery oversight.