Hunting and Fishing Sanctions Raised as Potential Trade Countermeasures

New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt says the province has an array of options to respond to the ongoing trade dispute with the United States, including restricting American access to provincial hunting and fishing programs. Speaking to reporters in Fredericton, Holt noted that cross-border visitors are eager to take part in local moose hunting and salmon fishing, suggesting those privileges could be limited or blocked alongside other potential measures such as procurement bans, removing American alcohol from store shelves, or targeting energy shipments that fuel New England.

The premier’s office declined to expand on the remarks, which follow her rejection of cutting off NB Power supply to Maine. While federal officials recently proposed and then quickly withdrew a 25 per cent counter-tariff on American seafood after pushback from processors, Holt maintained that New Brunswick has tools available to force the U.S. administration back to cross-border trade negotiations.

Outfitters Warn of Economic Impact on Rural Communities

Local industry representatives caution that targeting non-resident hunters and anglers could inflict damage on the provincial economy. Debbie Norton, president of the New Brunswick Professional Outfitters and Guides Association, pointed out that out-of-province visitors pay substantial fees for mandatory guiding, lodging, and meals, with some all-inclusive packages for the five-day September moose season advertised up to US$20,000. Sport fishing and hunting generate substantial revenue for the province, including $60 million annually in direct activity from recreational fishing focused along rivers such as the Restigouche and Miramichi.

Norton stated that removing the 120 total non-resident draw and outfitter tags—which are open to international and Canadian non-residents, not solely Americans—risks alienating visitors who drive economic development and sustain rural jobs. While noting that the majority of non-resident licences currently go to Americans, Norton suggested that raising licence fees would be a safer way to generate leverage without turning away high-paying sportspeople.