DFO in Maritimes concerned about pattern of violence, threats faced by officers [Video]

The federal Fisheries Department says it is concerned about a “pattern” of violence and threats toward its enforcement officers after two tense incidents off southwestern Nova Scotia last month.

In a news release Friday, the department cited a Sept. 19 case in St. Marys Bay during which fishery officers faced “an attempted assault while conducting routine at-sea enforcement activities.” Investigators said they made arrests and seized the vessel and unauthorized lobster traps, and referred the assault investigation to the RCMP.

The release also said that on Sept. 25 fishery officers attempted to board and inspect a vessel in St. Marys Bay but the operator tried to evade them, leading to a collision between the two boats.

RCMP spokesman Cpl. Guillaume Tremblay said officers laid charges of obstruction and assaulting a police officer against a 27-year-old man in the Sept. 19 case, but concluded no crime occurred in the Sept. 25 …