No. I don't think sending lobster gear to the bottom of the ocean is justified by conservation in any way.
Here's what I think is the most important argument to make on it. Fishermen went to a closed lobster breeding ground and removed untagged lobster gear illegally set under current Canadian law, brought it to the Meteghan DFO detachment and placed it in the evidence locker. All of that took place under the careful over-watch of hundreds of RCMP, coast guard and DFO personnel on ships and helicopters, and no charges were laid nor any enforcement action was taken.
I understand a lot of people wouldn't agree with that—