If the DFO wanted to regulate Mi’kmaq fishing, it would have to conduct meaningful consultations about any proposed limitations with the community, lawyer Bruce Wildsmith, a retired Dalhousie University law professor, told“Consultation would be central to any regulation,” said Wildsmith, who has represented Mi’kmaq in treaty cases, including in the Marshall Decision. “That consultation has never taken place.
“Fishermen care about the future sustainability of the fishery and they expect DFO to step up and enforce the rules across the board,” says O’Neil Cloutier, director of Regroupement des pêcheurs professionnels du sud de la Gaspésie, representing inshore fishermen in Quebec, inThe Sipekne’katik First Nation said that after two decades of waiting for the DFO to recognize its treaty right to harvest and sell fish, and seeing little movement, it’s taking control.
“that Mi’kmaw have a constitutionally protected treaty right to fish in pursuit of a moderate livelihood,” they said in a joint statement. We share the concerns of the Assembly Chiefs for the safety of their people. There is no place for the threats, intimidation, or vandalism that we have witnessed in South West Nova Scotia. This is unacceptable.”
“Reconciliation is a Canadian imperative and we all have a role to play in it,” the ministers’ statement said. “What is occurring does not advance this goal, nor does it support the implementation of First Nation treaty rights, or a productive and orderly fishery.”
Of course it does.
Since the 1700s there has been some advances in fishery management. There is a lobster fishing season for reason.
I believe it shows a lack of racism that expects everyone regardless of race to follow the government rules around the fisheries including but not limited to not fishing in the closed season.