The first nation on Lennox Island says it will begin agreed lobster fishing off the north coast of the PEI next week with or without federal support.
The first nation has a clearly agreed right to produce lobster for a moderate livelihood without the approval of the federal government – a right confirmed by the Supreme Court of Canada in the 1999 Marshall Judgment.
In 2021, the community said it wanted to start such fishing, but chose to first negotiate with the Ministry of Fisheries and Oceans on specific conditions to be set.
Chief Darlene Bernard told CBC News on Thursday that the community had waited long enough for Lennox Island to create its own management plan. Includes:
- A maximum of 1,000 traps are extinguished per year.
- A time frame that falls within the trading season using the community’s own pier and infrastructure.
- Compliance with DFO rules regarding trap size and conservation measures.
Bernard said the community sent the plan to the DFO last week, but received no response.
Lennox Island’s first nation leader Darlene Bernard says the community has no plans to wait any longer for a deal with the Federal Ministry of Fisheries and Oceans. It will start agreed lobster fishing on May 7. (Nicola MacLeod / CBC)
The first nation intends to begin contract fishing on Saturday, May 7, weather permitting.
About 25 people from Lennox Island are already catching lobster as part of commercial fishing, which is due to begin earlier in the week on May 2, as long as the weather and ocean conditions are favorable.
Bernard told CBC News that if there was any violence in the water targeting Lennox Island fishermen, the group would hold DFO responsible.
She added that representatives of Lennox Island had met with the PEI Fishermen’s Association earlier this week to share details of the plan.
In this September 2021 photo, fishermen from Sipekne’katik, the second largest group of Mi’kmaq in Nova Scotia, deal with lobster traps on the quay. (Robert Short / CBC)
PEIFA “strongly opposes” conflicts of all kinds
On Thursday afternoon, the Provincial Fishermen’s Association issued a written statement saying “unfortunately” that no discussions had taken place between the federal government, non-indigenous fisheries associations and the first nations to further discuss the requirements.
“We now have a situation where stakeholder groups disagree on how access to fisheries can be achieved in a controlled and regulated way,” the statement said.
“PEIFA does not support the provision of additional access to fisheries and expects the Ministry of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) to fully implement the existing provisions. The association strongly opposes conflicts of all kinds and is disappointed that this situation developed when workable solutions for all stakeholders could be reached. “
CBC News contacted the DFO and the Provincial Fisheries Department for comment, but did not receive a response until mid-afternoon on Thursday.
Add Comment