HALIFAX –
Two Mi’kmaw First Nations have negotiated lobster fishing preparations with Ottawa that authorize them to set a complete of three,500 traps throughout federally regulated fishing seasons off southwestern Nova Scotia.
Ottawa stated at this time in a information launch it had struck interim understandings with Bear River and Annapolis Valley First Nations that might permit the communities’ fishers to set 70 traps per vessel and to legally promote their catch.
The offers come following an identical association in June with the Potlotek First Nation in Cape Breton, wherein the federal Fisheries Division offered the neighborhood with licences to set 700 lobster traps.
The brand new fisheries introduced at this time will happen in lobster fishing areas 33, 34 and 35, and they’re going to happen throughout the industrial season.
Ottawa says the Acadia and Glooscap First Nations additionally participated within the discussions and will request to participate in fishing this season underneath the identical settlement.
Tensions stay, nevertheless, between Ottawa and fishers from Sipekne’katik First Nation, who’ve stated authorities officers have been seizing traps set underneath the neighborhood’s self-regulated fishery off southwest Nova Scotia.
The industrial season in space 35 begins on Thursday and goes till the top of the yr. It begins once more on Feb. 28 till midsummer. The fisheries in areas 33 and 34 run from Nov. 29 till Could 31, 2022.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Oct. 13, 2021.
