Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil (file photo)
Nova Scotia’s premier says he’s concerned about rising tensions between Southwest Nova fishermen and Sipekne’katik First Nation members.
The First Nation issued, what it called, “Moderate Livelihood Licences” for St. Mary’s Bay Thursday morning.
Area fisherman have been protesting what they call “out of season, illegal” fishing by Sipekne’katik First Nation members
Stephen McNeil says he has little power to intervene, it is a federal responsibility, but he has a message for those involved.
“Be respectful in this dispute,” he says. “The last thing we need is to see this escalate to the point where decisions are made that cause either public damage, or private damage, or, quite honestly, leaves a lasting legacy that I don’t think anyone wants.”
McNeil says there are a number of issues at play.
He says the Supreme Court has upheld Indigenous treaty rights to fish for a “moderate livelihood,” but it is up to the federal government to negotiate what exactly that means.
“There are rights that have come through the Marshall inquiry, the federal minister has said the commercial fishery has to fall within the seasons,” he says.
Fisheries and Oceans Minister Bernadette Jordan released a statement this morning which says commercial fishing cannot occur outside of the commercial fishing season.
McNeil says the federal government and DFO need to make it clear when and how indigenous fishermen may fish, and enforce fish harvesting laws evenly.
