Lessons for Canada from Maine’s Successful Baby Eel Fishery Strategy

In the dead of night, Darrell Young and his son, Dustin, venture into the woods of Franklin, Maine, armed with only their headlamps and the moonlight. Their mission? To check their nets and count the baby eels, also known as elvers, that they have caught in the stream below.

The elver fishery in Canada has been shut down for the third time in five years due to overfishing, violence, and sustainability concerns, leaving many people without jobs. In contrast, Maine has successfully regulated its elver fishery, with only a handful of infractions reported each year.

Maine’s success can be attributed to strict regulations and enforcement measures. The state increased fines, revoked licenses, and made elver violations a criminal offense. Cash transactions were eliminated to prevent illegal activities, and a traceability system was implemented to monitor the harvest in real-time.

Additionally, Maine tightly controls the export of elvers, ensuring that each shipment is inspected and sealed before leaving the country. This system has effectively prevented tampering and illegal activities in the fishery.

In contrast, Canada lacks federal oversight of the elver supply chain, leading to unauthorized fishing and a black market that is driving down prices for legal fishermen in Maine. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has launched a review of the fishery management but has yet to implement the comprehensive measures seen in Maine.

Maine’s success story has caught the attention of Canadian officials, who are now considering adopting similar regulations to protect their elver fishery. As Darrell and Dustin continue their nighttime expedition, the future of the elver fishery hangs in the balance, with lessons from Maine offering a path forward for sustainable fishing practices.