“There’s more (commercial fishermen) coming tonight from Pubnico and Yarmouth to drag our gear,” said Larry Michael.
The Sipekne’katik fishermen was preparing to steam out from the lower Saulnierville Wharf Sunday evening to check his 50 moderate livelihood traps. Michael claims 140 traps he’s set under moderate livelihood tags have been cut thus far. He also fishes commercially out of Digby and said that vessel has had 375 traps cut.
A Canadian Coast Guard vessel patrolled out in St. Mary’s Bay as the battle over a moderate livelihood raged through a destructive week.
A man is in hospital with life-threatening injuries after an overnight fire early Saturday at a lobster pound in Middle West Pubnico.
The building was not occupied at the time and no employees were harmed, however, RCMP report that the injuries of the man in hospital are related to the fire. The injured man is considered by RCMP to be a person of interest in relation to the fire, which police have determined is suspicious. The fire marshall has been called upon to investigate further.
Yarmouth County RCMP and firefighters from eight departments arrived on the scene of the fire at 1065 Highway 335 shortly before midnight, at the facility that Sipekne'katik First Nation Chief Mike Sack says belongs to a friend and ally of his community, the same one where he notes a Mi'kmaw fisher was barricaded and a catch of lobsters was destroyed on Wednesday. It took nearly five hours to contain the blaze, and the structure could not be saved.
According to provincial property records, the lobster pound belongs to the West Saint John, N.B.-based company ECAF — East Coast Atlantic Fisheries. The company became news in 2017 when its West Pubnico facility was shut down by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for not implementing recommended food safety controls.
“The industry has us cut off everywhere,” said Chief Sack on Sunday afternoon.
“There’s nowhere to take our lobster.”
Tensions between Indigenous and non-Indigenous fishers in Southwest Nova Scotia have grown exponentially in recent weeks in an ongoing conflict over First Nations rights to a moderate livelihood fishery and the commercial lobster industry’s desire for greater DFO regulation of that fishery. The dispute has led to incidents of intimidation of Indigenous fishers and property damage at facilities in New Edinburgh, Digby County and Middle West Pubnico, Yarmouth County.
Sack welcomed the increased police presence but warned that intimidation of his fishermen is increasing on the water, out of sight of the RCMP.
He last spoke to Bernadette Jordan on Saturday and said he’s hoping the talks lead to a federal recognition of their moderate livelihood plan within months.
“We’re not negotiating with them, we’re discussing our management plan with them,” said Sack.
An organization representing over one thousand licensed lobster fishers, the Coldwater Lobster Association, also condemned any illegal action which may have caused the fire in Middle West Pubnico, while calling on the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to come up with a workable solution for commercial and Indigenous fishers.
This has gone TOO far. Fire crackling woke us up. Middle West Pubnico tonight 🥺 #MikMaq #TreatyRights pic.twitter.com/62M6l5B8o3
— Pierrette dEntremont (@PAdEntremont) October 17, 2020
“Tensions are running high on both sides but we condemn any vigilantism in this crisis and ask that all people in this dispute respect the needs of each other,” said association president Bernie Berry in a statement. “We don’t yet know the cause of the fire and we should await the investigation before coming to conclusions.”
Berry stated that a workable solution for all sectors in the Southwest Nova Scotia lobster fishery won’t come to pass until the federal government brings all sides together to reach a mutually beneficial agreement.
“To date, there have been no meaningful face-to-face negotiations with fishing organizations representing licensed fishers,” said Berry. “Unless this happens, anger and frustration on both sides will continue to run high.”
I’m appalled by the acts of violence, intimidation, and destruction taking place in Nova Scotia. The perpetrators will be held accountable. We’ve approved a request to provide more support to the @RCMPNS, and we’re focused on keeping people safe. https://t.co/Ug68Y7jppM
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) October 17, 2020
Earlier on Friday night, a group of six Nova Scotia senators co-signed a letter calling on the RCMP and the Government of Canada to take immediate action to de-escalate the violence in Southwest Nova Scotia and allow ongoing discussions between Indigenous and non-Indigenous fishing communities continue in peace.
“This means ensuring that the shameful, violent actions that were allowed to take their course over the past weeks will not be tolerated in any way and that perpetrators will be held accountable for their actions,” stated the senators’ open letter. The letter was signed by senators Wanda Thomas Bernard, Mary Coyle, Jane Cordy, Colin Deacon, Stanley Kutcher and Terry Mercer.
“We hereby request the Government of Canada to move rapidly, respectfully and appropriately to properly address the very legitimate concerns of the Mi’kmaw nations that underlie this conflict.”
Earlier in the week Chris d’Entremont, the MP for West Nova, once again called on federal Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan to take action. He said South West Nova is in a crisis situation.
“Time is running out. Violent tensions are erupting and leaders from all sides of the issue are waiting for you to finally step up,” he wrote in the letter.
D’Entremont attributes the increasingly violent incidents happening in southwestern Nova Scotia to Jordan’s inaction.
He says he does not condone people taking the law into their own hands, but he understands the frustration many are feeling. He added that it’s no surprise that experienced fishermen who are being denied a place at the table during negotiations and who are kept in the dark about what is being discussed, are fearful.
D’Entremont said the minister shouldn’t be looking for others to fix the conflict and that it’s up to her to do her job. He references a statement earlier in the week from Premier Stephen McNeil who said, “The quickest way and the best way to reduce tension is to have the federal minister and the department at the table with both sides at the same time.”
Anyone with information on the fire is asked to contact Yarmouth District RCMP at 902-742-9106, or submit anonymous tips to Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca.
