Trout Nova Scotia

September 2004.
Trout Poachers Receive Highest Fine Ever in Nova Scotia

The above photo shows Provincial Conservation Officer Dave Dauphinee displaying 62 trout confiscated from poachers within the Tangier Grand Lake Wilderness Area in Halifax County on the Victoria Day weekend.

Halifax, NS: September 8, 2004 - On August 10th at the Sheet Harbour Provincial Court House, two men from Hants County were fined $1500 each for poaching wild brook trout. This is the largest fine ever issued in Nova Scotia and one of the largest in Canada for such an offence.
The two men in question were fishing in the Tangier Grand Lake Wilderness Area in Halifax County on the Victoria Day weekend. Federal Fisheries Officer Tim Owen and Provincial Conservation Officer Dave Dauphinee apprehended the two individuals with sixty-two trout in their possession. This was well in excess of the five trout per day possession limit.
The importance of these large fines cannot be understated. Wild brook trout populations in Nova Scotia have been in rapid decline over the last twenty years. From 1980 to 2000, estimates show catch rates down close to 60 percent. Maintaining and enforcing trout bag limits is crucial to the survival of the species as it allows more trout to mature and reproduce.
Trout fishing is important to the Nova Scotia economy. A sport fishing survey conducted by Nova Scotia Inland Fisheries in 2000 indicated that the recreational fishery contributed over $20 million to the provincial economy on an annual basis. Of the roughly 60,000 recreational fishing licenses sold in 2000, over 70 percent targeted trout as their main species.
"This is a monumental court decision for this province," said Trout Nova Scotia President, Jamie Steeves. "We hope these steep fines will deter individuals from exceeding their possession limit in the future. It also sends a clear message to poachers that enforcement officers and other anglers are watching, even in remote areas."
Trout Nova Scotia commends the work of Mr. Owen and Mr. Dauphinee. "These men worked extremely hard to track and apprehend these individuals. It goes to show you what can be accomplished when federal and provincial enforcement officers work together to protect our valuable trout resource. We look forward to working cooperatively with both levels of government to protect and conserve our wild trout and trout habitat throughout the province," said Steeves.
Trout Nova Scotia is a non-profit organization that strives to create a sustainable trout fishery within the province for future generations. Trout Nova Scotia works with all levels of government and various conservation organizations to develop programs and policies that have a positive impact on trout, trout habitat and sustainable trout fishing practices.

April 2009
Trout Nova Scotia's Decline of Trout Report (Draft)
(in pdf format)

February 2006
Trout study 2005 draft data summary by John MacMillan and Tara Crandlemere
Two lakes in the Woodens River watershed (Croucher and Long) and two lakes in the Tangier Grand Lake Wilderness Area (Fourth and Blue Woods) were selected for assessment through the Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee Process.
The purpose of the 2005 trout study was to assess the status of the four trout populations and environmental factors that may influence trout production in the four study lakes. The data were compared with other recent studies conducted in the Cape Breton highlands and mainland Nova Scotia, as well as compared to historical studies.
For a complete report click here for pdf file.

January 2006. Canada has warmest January in a century.

December 2005. ATV Regulations
The Nova Scotia legislature has passed strict new rules for all-terrain vehicles.
The amendments to the Off-highway Vehicles Act bans children under 14 from riding ATVs anywhere except on a closed course. Parents have to supervise the riders and there must be someone with advanced first-aid training standing by.
The issue of ATV safety came to the forefront in Nova Scotia in October when two teenage girls were killed in an accident.
A 14-year-old girl was driving an ATV when it went off the road and into a ravine near Shubenacadie. Her two passengers, aged 14 and 15, died.
RCMP officers found three helmets at the crash scene but didn't know if the girls were wearing them.
That accident happened just as provincial politicians were beginning debate on new rules for ATVs and other off-road vehicles. Some politicians said the accident made them rethink their position on regulating ATVs.
The bill passed on Thursday was a compromise between the governing Tories and the NDP, which pushed for tough rules to protect young ATV drivers and the environment.
Premier John Hamm allowed a free vote after several backbenchers complained the rules were too restrictive and unenforceable.
Although five Tory MLAs and the Liberal caucus voted against the government bill, it passed 30-15.
"My colleagues and I felt it was inappropriate to ban children on children-size machines that were engaging in an activity with their families, without incident by the way," said Brooke Taylor, one of the Tory MLAs who voted against the bill.
Liberal MLAs voted against the amendments because they said the rules didn't go far enough to keep young riders safe or do enough to protect the environment.
Hamm said ATV drivers may need time to adjust to the new rules, but he believes most Nova Scotians will obey the law.
For more information individuals may contact Voluntary Planning
Suite 600, Joseph Howe Building Halifax, N.S. B3J 3J9;
Phone 424-5682 or
(toll free) 1-866-858-5850
E-mail Website

Province House, November 18 2005
TNS presented its case to the Provincial Government regarding its concern over the environmental degradation caused by OHV's, particularly as it relates to sensitive ecosystems and wilderness protected areas.

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