Revised recreational scallop licences discriminatory, says fisherman, 83

‘I feel like my dignity and rights have been taken away’

His boat sits ashore, dry as a bone.

To the eye, Larry Bailey’s boat is ready to test the saltwater around his native Wild Cove. In anticipation of the scallop season, he’d changed the oil and fixed his drag net.

However, given the revision of recreational scallop licences for 2017 by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), Bailey said he isn’t sure if he’ll fish at all this year.

“I can’t go out. I used to love going out,” said Bailey, 83. “I’ve been dragging scallops since 1950. Now, old seniors like myself are just sitting at home.”

The issue lies with what DFO spokesperson Sam Whiffen identified as a revision to the licence.

The 2017 recreational scallop licence states that, “A drag rake means a device used in fishing for shellfish that is towed along the bed of water by a vessel, but does not include a hydraulic device or a mechanical device.”

To be clear, Whiffen highlighted via email that the Atlantic Fishery Regulations “have not changed,” but have only been revised.

Under this clarified definition, Bailey’s boat is in violation of DFO’S regulations.

Bailey has a five-horsepower Honda motor with a capstan on his boat to help him pull up his drag. He said that given his age, he needs the capstan’s help to haul aboard his catch, but that the motor has no bearing on the actual drag.

“These hoists aren’t attached to the drag whatsoever,” said Bailey. “It’s just the same as if I had Hulk Hogan hauling everything aboard for me.”

Whiffen explained that DFO consulted with commercial lobster harvesters in 2016 to discuss recreational scallop fishermen using hydraulic and mechanical devices during fishing, resulting in this year’s revision.

“I feel like my dignity and rights have been taken away. It’s discrimination,” Bailey said of the revision.

“I can’t go out. I used to love going out. I’ve been dragging scallops since 1950. Now, old seniors like myself are just sitting at home.” Larry Bailey’s

PHOTO COURTESY OF PATRICIA BAILEY Larry Bailey, 83, has been scalloping fishing since 1950. Given the revision to the recreational scallop licence, Bailey hasn’t even put his boat in the water due to a fear of being fined.