The FFAW is raising the alarm about “concerning behaviour” from DFO after a member had his cell phone seized as part of an ongoing investigation.

Union President Dwan Street calls DFO’s electronic logbook policy “a poorly executed overreach that ignores the realities” of the industry.

The cell phone belonging to Jason Sullivan, the FFAW’s Inshore Council Vice President, was seized as DFO investigated an alleged fishing violation—but he and the union see it as heavy-handedness.

Sullivan is charging DFO with a violation of his privacy, as the phone is not something he uses for fishing. He claims the department would not clarify why the phone was taken or when it might be returned.

Union President Dwan Street questioned whether DFO is overstepping its boundaries.

“Nobody is disputing that DFO enforcement has a job to do,” Street told the Tim Powers Show on VOCM, “and if there’s an investigation and there’s an allegation, fair ball.” But Street says “it just seems like what DFO is doing here right now is completely overstepping their bounds.” She says “if they’re looking for a particular conversation on your phone, I’m pretty sure they can go to your provider and get those records.”