Federal Court rejects First Nations’ bid to keep roe herring fishery closed – The Province
March 3, 2015
A group of First Nations on the west coast of Vancouver Island have lost their bid to keep the commercial roe herring fishery closed in their territory.
On Thursday, a Federal Court judge heard from five nations that are members of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council who had been seeking an injunction to prevent the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans from opening the fishery.
The herring fishery on the west coast of Vancouver Island was closed for almost 10 years because stocks were below acceptable levels, but Fisheries Minister Gail Shea decided to open them last year despite opposition from a number of camps.
The Nuu-chah-nulth were successful in getting an injunction in February 2014, and argued that the situation hasn’t changed — there are still not enough herring in the area to support a commercial roe fishery.
