Sipekne’katik Won’t Block Commercial Lobster Season, But Won’t Participate Either
The lucrative commercial lobster season in LFA34, located in southwestern Nova Scotia, finally started on December 8. The season was supposed to start on November 30, but more than a week of bad weather has caused stressful delays for fishermen.
But one notable group was absent on the sea today: commercial fishermen from the Sipekne’katik First Nation.
Chief Mike Sack said the Band will not be participating in the commercial fishery this year. In past interviews, Sack worried that Mi’kmaq fishermen wouldn’t be safe, following months of heated conflict with non-indigenous commercial fishermen. There has been much anger and protest over Sipekne’katik’s decision to assert their treaty rights and start a moderate livelihood lobster fishery back in September.
In his latest interview, however, Sack said the reason for his band skipping the LFA34 season is also financial in nature. After the controversy over the moderate livelihood fishery this fall, Sack claims there are no willing buyers of Mi’kmaq lobster-even if it’s fished in the commercial season.
“We decided that we have nowhere to sell our lobster,” said Sack. “We’re very restricted on where we can buy any gear; can’t get traps, can’t get fueled delivered. So, we’re boxed out of the fishery right now.”
Sipekne’katik may not be fishing this commercial season, but they won’t be protesting it either. Back in October, Sack suggested publicly that he may gather the supporters of the moderate livelihood fishery nation-wide and block the lobster season altogether.
“If they can interfere with our fisheries, we’re going to start rallying up and blocking all of their wharves,” said Sack in an interview with Huddle more than a month ago.
“We’re not going to be aggressive, but we were trying to work through their system…and playing by everyone’s rules… and we’re just not going to have it anymore.”
Sack says that on October 30, he spoke with a regional director of fisheries management for DFO. The director, according to Sack, informed the Chief that any untagged Mi’kmaq lobster traps would be confiscated. This alleged conversation is what led to Sack threatening to block the wharves.
Now, Sack says no such protest will be taking place, as it would be irresponsible to do so during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Our support was going to be coming from across Canada. We decided not to risk bringing Covid into our community,” said the Chief.
In the meantime, Sipekne’katik continues to negotiate the terms of their moderate livelihood fishery with the federal government. Minister Bernadette Jordan sent a Memorandum of Understanding to the Band and, last week, Sack responded with a letter addressed directly to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
In it he complimented Jordan, saying they are on the same “wavelength” with negotiations. But he blamed government bureaucrats for much of the divide. In the end, he informs Trudeau that Sipekne’katik wants to self-govern their own fishery.
“I am calling upon you, Mr. Trudeau, to ensure the honor of the Crown is upheld and ensure that Canada uses the most efficient means within its legislative processes to facilitate a constitutionally protected self-government agreement for Sipekne’katik Treaty Implementation Fishery Management Plan that is acceptable and parallel to Canada’s Fisheries Act,” reads the letter.
The Sipekne’katik moderate livelihood fishery is due to wrap up on December 17. Huddle Today made numerous attempts to reach the Coldwater Lobster Association for comment, but it did not respond before publication time.