Intimidation now ‘commonplace’ in N.S. lobster industry, says buyer whose home was shot at

Standing by a bullet hole in his dining room wall, lobster buyer Geoffrey Jobert recounts the harrowing experience he faced in his own home in Nova Scotia’s largest fishery. The attack, which occurred overnight on Nov. 23, left Jobert shaken but sadly not surprised, as such incidents have become all too common in the region.

The single shot that pierced through three rooms of his Mavillette, N.S., home ended up lodged in a rocking chair where Jobert often sits during the day. “It was pretty intense in the morning when I noticed the shot. My heart was beating… but at the same time, it’s commonplace around the community for this to happen,” he shared from his residence, guarded by security personnel from his company Lobster Hub Inc.

Jobert, who took over his father’s processing plant five years ago along with his younger brother, employs around 100 people in the area. He has built friendships in the francophone town and enjoys leisurely paddling along the stunning beach nearby. However, threats began to surface last year after he agreed to buy the catch of a licensed commercial harvester who refused to sell to facilities involved in illegal lobster fishing.

Unfortunately, Jobert is not the only one in the community facing such attacks. Sgt. Jeff LeBlanc, the commander of the RCMP detachment in Meteghan, revealed that over the past two years, officers have laid 51 charges against a “criminal organization” linked to illegal fisheries. This has resulted in four shots being fired into homes in the last seven months alone.

Further north, a former president of the Maritime Fishermen’s Union, Joel Comeau, had his isolated cabin in the woods destroyed by a front-end loader. Comeau had been vocal about his disapproval of buyers who purchase lobster caught outside regulated seasons. Several other commercial lobster fishermen have also faced threats and attacks, choosing to remain anonymous out of fear of retaliation.

Truck driver Wayne Saulnier shared his experience of his truck going up in flames after being parked near Jobert’s processing plant, caught in the crossfire of the ongoing conflict. Local business owner Jean-Claude Comeau called for the community to take a stand against the lawlessness that has plagued the region.

The root of the conflict is believed to stem from Ottawa’s lack of enforcement at the Saulnierville wharf, where a Mi’kmaw lobster fishery was launched in 2020 outside of the regulated federal season. While Jobert refrains from blaming the Indigenous fishers, he believes the government must take more proactive measures to restore peace in the community.

Chief Michelle Glasgow of Sipekne’katik First Nation, which initiated the fishery, has criticized the Fisheries Department for restricting the band’s right to sell their catch, citing the 1999 Supreme Court of Canada Marshall decision. The local municipality of Clare is being urged to increase policing in the area, as the RCMP works on enhancing patrols to monitor compliance.

Despite the risks and challenges, Jobert remains resolute in his stance. He vows to continue buying lobster from those he chooses to support, refusing to succumb to coercion. With a call for urgent action from all levels of government and law enforcement, the hope is that peace and order can be restored in this once serene fishing community.