P.E.I.'s Lennox Island First Nation to launch treaty lobster fishery without DFO deal
CBC
The Lennox Island First Nation says it will be launching a treaty lobster fishery off P.E.I.'s North Shore next week with or without the federal government's support.
The First Nation has a clear treaty right to harvest lobster for a moderate livelihood without the federal government's approval — a right affirmed by the Supreme Court of Canada in the 1999 Marshall ruling.
The community had said in 2021 that it wanted to start such a fishery, but chose to first negotiate with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans on specific conditions that would be put in place.
Chief Darlene Bernard told CBC News Thursday that the community has waited long enough, and so Lennox Island has created its own management plan. It includes:
Bernard said the community sent the plan to the DFO last week, but has not heard back.
The First Nation intends to launch the treaty fishery on Saturday, May 7, weather permitting.
About 25 people from Lennox Island already harvest lobster as part of the commercial fishery, set to open early in the week of May 2, as long as the weather and ocean conditions are favourable.
Bernard told CBC that if there is any violence on the water aimed at Lennox Island treaty fisherman, the band will consider DFO to be responsible.
She added that representatives from Lennox Island met with the P.E.I. Fishermen's Association earlier this week to share details of the plan.
CBC News has reached out to the association, DFO and the provincial fisheries department for comment, but has not heard back.
More to come.
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