Question Period Note: Social Media post regarding illegally harvesting lobsters

Why did your department issue a social media post warning about illegally harvesting lobsters that wash ashore during Hurricane Fiona?

• On the morning of September 24, 2022, a social media post was issued on Fisheries and Oceans Canada Facebook pages as well as on its Twitter accounts.
• The post was ill-timed and did not reflect the most immediate priority of public safety during a time when Atlantic Canadians are dealing with the devastation of Hurricane Fiona. It was removed that same day and the department issued an apology.

• On the morning of Saturday, September 24, 2022, a social media post was issued on the French and English Fisheries and Oceans Canada Facebook pages as well as on its Twitter accounts (@FishOceansCan / @PechesOceansCAN).
• The post read: “As hurricane Fiona approaches the East coast, we would like to remind everyone to please follow local emergency safety recommendations, avoid the coastline and above all #StaySafe. As well, if you find lobsters washed up on the shore after the storm, remember it is illegal to harvest them. Simply leave them there.” The posts were accompanied with an image that read “Lobsters washed-up on the shorelines? Leave them there.”
• The message drew criticism online with many calling it tone-deaf and insensitive. The post was removed and replaced with an apology post issued around 3:00 pm EDT that read: “We would like to apologize for the ill-timed tweet regarding #HurricaneFiona from earlier today. You can be assured the safety and security of Canadians in the region is our priority.”
• The original English Twitter post was split into two, with the lobster message being the second message (or sub-tweet). That sub-tweet garnered 42 retweets, 283 quote tweets, 70 likes. The numbers of the original Facebook post were not captured before being removed, but it had a solid amount of engagement (though less than Twitter).
• As of the morning of Monday, September 26, 2022, the apology post on the English Facebook had 102 comments (primarily negative) and 19 shares, while the English Twitter had 442 likes, 446 comments (primarily negative) and 187 retweets.
• Reaction on the French channels were negligible. No comments were posted on the apology on either channels and 2 likes on each channel.
• The department has not received any media calls on the subject.

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