Yarmouth County man charged in fish plant arson

The RCMP has charged a 24-year-old Yarmouth County man with arson in relation to a fire at a fish plant in Middle West Pubnico that occurred last fall.

Near midnight on Oct. 16, Yarmouth County RCMP responded to a building fire at a fish plant in Middle West Pubnico. The fish plant was completely destroyed by the fire.

It was unoccupied at the time. Investigators determined that the fire was result of arson and identified a suspect in the incident.

On July 14, 2021 – nine months after the incident – police arrested Brendon Douglas James Porter, 24, of East Pubnico, without incident.

Porter has been charged with arson under section 434 of the Criminal Code. He was held in custody overnight and has appeared before a judge in Yarmouth Provincial Court. He was released on strict conditions and will next appear in Shelburne Provincial Court on Aug. 25.

The investigation is ongoing.

At the time of the fire, tensions were high in southwestern Nova Scotia due to a self-regulated moderate livelihood fishery launched by the Sipekne'katik First Nation in St. Mary's Bay that was taking place outside of DFO regulated commercial seasons.

This plant was said to have been storing moderate livelihood catches. A few days prior to the fire, the fish plant had been the site of an angry disturbance by protesting fishermen.

In an initial RCMP media release last October, the police said a man was is in hospital with injuries believed related to the fire. He had also been referred to as a person of interest.

The RCMP confirmed to media outlets that Porter was the injured person.

Last October the RCMP had distributed photos and a video of people they referred to as persons of interest in the investigation.

The RCMP is asking anyone with information on the fire or the identities of the persons of interest to contact Yarmouth District RCMP at 902-742-9106. Should a person wish to remain anonymous, they can call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers toll free at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers. ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips App.