Lobster harvesters in southwest N.S say deal with Indigenous groups is being abused – CBC
Dec 01, 2023
Tensions rise over claims traps can be fished by non-Indigenous harvesters who lease commercial licences
Lobster harvester associations in southwest Nova Scotia have withdrawn support for an arrangement that authorizes four First Nations in the area to implement their treaty right to fish for a moderate living.
On Thursday, fishing groups claimed the “interim authorization” approved this year by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) contains a change that allows moderate livelihood traps to be fished by non-Indigenous harvesters who lease commercial lobster licences held by First Nations.
“It’s a clear breach of good faith between the fishing communities of southwest Nova Scotia and the federal government,” said spokesperson Colin Sproul of the Bay of Fundy Fishermen’s Association.
The claim was explicitly denied in a Facebook post Thursday night by the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs that said the associations “continue to perpetuate misinformation, increasing violence and tension for our harvesters on the water.”
