DFO says it has sufficient resources to monitor Nova Scotia’s native lobster fisheries

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) says its enforcement branch will be on the water this summer and equipped to monitor First Nations lobster fishery compliance.

The pledge follows the chaotic baby eel fishery this spring, which saw widespread illegal activity by some indigenous and non-indigenous harvesters.

DFO shut down legal glass eel fisheries, affecting both commercial licensees and indigenous groups with department-approved fishing plans. But “poaching” — as federal fisheries minister Joyce Murray called it — continued.

“I want to clarify that they are two very different fisheries,” Tim Kerr, director of conservation and protection for the Maritimes region, told reporters Monday in a briefing on indigenous rights-based lobster fishing.

Kerr said lobstering is performed “on the water” and the catch is brought to shore. Elvers, or baby eels, are caught in the middle of the night on numerous rivers throughout Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

“[Conservation and protection] is very well equipped to enforce the upcoming lobster fishery,” Kerr said.

St Mary’s Bay

In April, Kerr also said DFO had sufficient resources to monitor glass eel fisheries – a claim disputed by commercial licensees who argued the department was unable or unwilling to stop the ongoing illegal glass eel fishery.

Kerr said officers will be on docks and patrolling St. Marys Bay to monitor the indigenous food, social and ceremonial (FSC) lobster fishery, which does not allow the sale of catch.

The bay near Digby, NS has been a focal point in recent years regarding the sale of FSC lobster caught by members of the Sipekne’katik First Nation.

“In terms of our ability to adequately monitor lobster fishermen’s compliance under the FSC license this summer, I can assure you that [conservation and protection] has resources to do that effectively in areas like St. Marys Bay,” he said.

Kerr was joined by Michael Leonard, Director of Indigenous Fisheries Management for DFO’s Maritime Region, who mentioned the department’s efforts to promote and implement treaty fishing rights.

That includes Supreme Court of Canada rulings upholding the right to earn a moderate income from fishing.

Low subsistence lobster fishery

The court also upheld the government’s authority to regulate conservation fishing rights.

Leonard said DFO made nine “interim agreements” with nine First Nations in the Maritimes to operate a moderate subsistence lobster fishery.

DFO issued a license on May 31 for Sipekne’katik’s multi-species food, social and ceremonial fisheries. The license includes lobster.

Sipekne’katik management plan

Sipekne’katik fisheries manager, Michael McDonald, says the band has its own band-approved moderate subsistence fishery, although it is not authorized by the DFO.

“We don’t have to sell our FSC. We also have a subsistence fishery and our fishers will fish for subsistence tags under our subsistence management plan,” McDonald said in a statement to CBC News.

“DFO is trying to harass our fishermen, like last year, and then expect legal action against DFO in the Nova Scotia Supreme Court.”