Haida win court bid to block commercial herring roe fishery – The Province

March 9, 2015

The Haida Nation has succeeded in preventing the commercial roe herring fishery from opening this year in the waters around Haida Gwaii.

Last Thursday, the Haida went to the Federal Court to seek an injunction, arguing that herring stocks and the First Nation’s aboriginal rights would be put in jeopardy if the roe herring fishery was opened.

Justice Michael Manson granted the injunction in a decision delivered Friday. He found that there was a risk of “irreparable harm” if a large commercial herring roe fishery was allowed to reopen in Haida Gwaii this year.

“The court was receptive to our submissions and we were able to demonstrate a very real problem in the management of herring and the attitude of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans,” Haida Nation president Peter Lantin said in a news release. “We hope with this ruling DFO will start working with us to develop a sustainable fishery.”

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