Paqtnkek fishers call for unity in Mi’kmaw nation to address elver fishing – CBC

May 22, 2025

Paqtnek Mi’kmaw Nation chooses not to be involved with elver fishery over conservation concerns

Often the first meal given to babies transitioning from their mother’s milk and the final meal for elders making their journey to the spirit world, the eel has significance in the Mi’kmaw culture.

Kerry Prosper, an elder and councillor from Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation, roughly 240 km northeast of Halifax, is among those concerned for the future of the eels with the surge in elver (baby eel) fishing.

There’s been increased Mi’kmaw involvement in the industry, but not all Mi’kmaw fishers support elver harvesting.