Safety Risks, Institutional Responses, and Narratives in Fishery Management: A Case Study of the 2023 Commercial Glass Eel Season in Nova Scotia, Canada

Abstract

This article investigates the criminogenic features and safety challenges in Canada’s commercial glass eel fishery focusing on the 2023 season in Nova Scotia. The fishery, characterized by high value density and nocturnal harvesting, has become increasingly vulnerable to illegal fishing. The research analyzes over 1,400 pages of documents obtained through Access to Information and Privacy requests, including interdepartmental communications within Fisheries and Oceans Canada, public infraction reports, and fishery officer patrol data. Using social network analysis, the study maps communication flows among key groups mainly institutional across three operational phases. It reveals a disconnect between institutional narratives and public concerns. The study identifies two major findings. First, the crisis seemed foreseeable due to the fishery’s biological and organizational traits – narrow harvest windows, accessible gear, and high market volatility – yet institutional responses were delayed and reactive. Second, institutional emphasis on media relations and symbolic enforcement actions, such as listing seizures and patrols without contextual detail, suggests a prioritization of image management over substantive risk mitigation. Ultimately, the research highlights the dual role of the state as both regulator and crisis responder, and the importance of aligning institutional actions with public safety concerns. It calls for more proactive, transparent, and community-informed governance strategies in managing high-risk, high-value fisheries like the Canadian glass eel fishery.

Keywords: illegal fishing, fisheries management, public safety risks, institutional discourse, crime reports

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