Nova Scotia business accused of buying illegal lobster denies allegations

LOCKEPORT – One of the Nova Scotia businesses accused of buying illegally caught lobsters in the province denies any allegations of wrongdoing.

The Nova Scotia government announced Friday that charges have been laid against two businesses in the southwestern part of the province under the Fisheries and Coastal Resources Act.

Independent Fisheries Ltd. in Lockeport, N.S., and a numbered company in Shelburne County are both facing charges of buying, selling or processing fish that were caught without a valid licence. 

A spokesperson for Independent Fisheries denies the allegations, saying the firm operates with a robust due diligence process that ensures lobster is sourced in-season from legal license holders, and they require proof of origin for every transaction. 

The company says it looks forward to being vindicated through the legal process. 

The numbered company, 3329874 Nova Scotia Ltd., could not be reached. 

The cases are scheduled for a court date in Yarmouth Provincial Court next month.

The president of the Unified Fisheries Conservation Alliance said Friday the organization is pleased charges have been laid. 

The group that represents thousands of independent, multi-species commercial fishers and associations across the Maritimes filed a lawsuit against Independent Fisheries Ltd. in November 2024.

A court hearing about the lawsuit was held last month, but there hasn’t been a ruling yet.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 17, 2026.