My name is Nathan Whitmore. I'm a former fisheries observer and population biologist. I am currently advocating for a strengthening of observer protections under the Fisheries Amendment Bill.

During my last voyage as a fisheries observer I turned down a substantial bribe to collude in a lucrative fishing scam. The Ministry did not attempt a prosecution. As it turns out, my experience was not an isolated failure but part of a wider pattern of non-prosecution. I’m advocating for practical measures to strengthen observer protections to ensure the Ministry has the necessary tools and oversight to enforce laws.