Chief Mike Sack of the Sipekne’katik First Nation.
The Sipekne’katik First Nation is planning to launch its ‘Treaty’ lobster fishery on Monday in St. Mary’s Bay.
In a release, the band says notice has been given to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans that all ‘food, social and ceremonial’ tags will be returned, and treaty tags will be distributed.
The treaty fishery is not authorized by DFO, and would be regulated by the Sipekne’katik First Nation.
The band says the transition comes after a series of ‘debilitating acts of aggression toward the FSC fishery.’
They allege several first nation boats were cut loose in Weymouth earlier this month, and a crate of lobster was stolen. RCMP are investigating.
They also say several community members have had their traps confiscated by DFO.
A conservation study was done by Dalhousie University Marine Affairs, and Chief Mike Sack says early-stage data collection shows that soft-shelled lobster catch is not a concern.
In the release by the band, study lead Dr. Megan Bailey says 99 per cent of the adult-sized lobsters that were brought up are hard-shelled.
She says the study should be extended over a three-year period, and take place in June and July as well to ensure accuracy of the findings over time.
Sack says he hopes the preliminary findings quell the tensions and harassment that community members have faced on the water.
“We just wanted to ensure that the species was plentiful and no harm to them. If the study showed that it was gonna be not good for the species for us to be fishing then we would change those dates. We have no other choice but to do it. Our community has the highest poverty rate. We’re trying to take from the commercial industry at all, we’re just there to have our piece and hopefully coexist down there.”
He added there are now people and resources in the area to ensure the safety of their fishers.
The band says DFO has been provided with the management plan for the fishery, which they say makes up less than one per cent of the total LFA 34 non-Indigenous commercial fishery.
We’ve reached out to DFO for comment, as well as the Unified Fisheries Conservation Alliance.
