Implementation of Treaty-Based Fishing Rights Continuing
The implementation of Treaty-based fishing rights for First Nations in the Maritimes and Québec is continuing through Moderate Livelihood Understandings and Rights Reconciliation Agreements with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).
“Second only to conservation is our responsibility to work with First Nations to further implement right-related fisheries,” said Michael Leonard, DFO’s Director of Indigenous Fisheries Management, Maritimes Region, during a technical briefing this summer on ...
Moderate Livelihood Fishery Concerns Continue
All eyes are on the federal government going into the end of the commercial lobster season in southwestern Nova Scotia this year, to see if Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan is good on her word.
In a statement issued by Jordan on March 3, “effective this season, we will introduce a new path for First Nations to fish in pursuit of a moderate livelihood, one that addresses much of the feedback we’ve heard over the past year. It’s a path that is flexible, adaptable and based on three ...
Billion-Dollar Clearwater Deal With Premium and Mi’kmaq First Nations Coalition Finalized
A coalition of seven Nova Scotia First Nations communities is now the proud co-owner of one of North America’s largest vertically integrated seafood companies and the largest holder of shellfish licenses and quotas in Canada.
The billion-dollar sale of Clearwater Seafoods Incorporated to Premium Brands Holdings Corporation and FNC Holdings Limited Partnership, representing a coalition of Mi’kmaq First Nations, was finalized on Jan. 25, after Clearwater shareholders voted overwhelmingly ...
No Resolution in Sight for Moderate Livelihood Fishery Dispute
Above photo: Hundreds of people from as far away as Cape Breton attended a rally in Digby on Oct. 13. Kathy Johnson photo
Confusion continues to reign supreme since a self-regulated, moderate livelihood lobster fishery was initiated this fall by First Nations in Nova Scotia.
Rallies have been held, violence and property damage has occurred, charges have been laid, a temporary court injunction issued and a federal special representative appointed to facilitate discussions between the ...
Landmark Reconciliation Agreement Reached in the Arctic Surf Clam Fishery
Fourteen First Nations Announce Landmark Agreement with Clearwater on Arctic Surf Clam
A total of 14 First Nations communities in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador and Clearwater Seafoods Incorporated announced they have reached a landmark agreement to the benefit of all parties.
The agreement forges a 50-year partnership that protects existing jobs in the Arctic surf clam fishery while creating meaningful economic, employment and capacity building for the fourteen First Nations ...
DFO Awards New Arctic Surf Clam License
On Feb. 21. Federal Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc announced that a new license for Arctic surf clam will be issued to the Five Nations Clam Company.
This decision will significantly enhance Indigenous participation in the offshore fishery in Atlantic Canada.
The Five Nations Clam Company is a new entity that will be comprised of First Nations from Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick. This entity will partner with Premium Seafoods to ...
Federal Budget 2016 Highlights
The federal Liberal Government’s first budget contained quite a few items that directly impact the fishing and marine industries in Atlantic Canada.
Some of the most notable were extension changes to the Employment Insurance program.
Dramatic declines in global oil prices since late 2014 have produced sharp and sustained unemployment shocks in commodity-based regions. In response to these unemployment shocks, Budget 2016 proposes to make legislative changes to extend the duration of EI ...
Work Rewarded: Roger Sark Honoured by Atlantic First Nations Chiefs for Fisheries Work
Roger Sark received a surprising phone call recently.
He was informed that he was to be honoured by the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs as the 2015 Fisheries Business Person of the Year.
It's not something he was expecting, but it’s welcome all the same, Sark said.
“I was thrilled,” he said.
“It's always great to be recognized for the work you do amongst your peers in the industry. I was quite happy.”
“It was a learning process for me, every step ...
First Nations Family Receives Captain and Crew of the Year Honours
“We work as a team.”
It’s a simple statement, but one each crew member of the Sea Predator repeats over and over when they talk about their work as fishermen.
Captain Billy Francis and his crew — comprised of his sister, Jamie Parker and her husband, Larry Parker — were recently honoured as Captain of the Year and Crew of the Year by the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nation Chiefs Secretariat in the Commercial Fisheries Award category.
They were given the awards by Ken ...
