Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has renewed an interim authorization to the Wasoqopa’q (Acadia), Annapolis Valley, Bear River and Glooscap First Nations, granting their fishers access to the lobster fisheries around Nova Scotia during the commercial season.
“I am pleased to announce the fourth interim moderate livelihood authorization issued to Wasoqopa’q, Bear River, Annapolis Valley and Glooscap First Nations, which sees their members exercising the treaty right to fish and sell their catch in pursuit of a moderate livelihood during the commercial season,” Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Diane Lebouthillier said. “It is encouraging to see the continuity in the renewal of this interim understanding by these four Mi’kmaw First Nations and the department. May these and all harvesters in southwest Nova Scotia enjoy a safe and prosperous season.”
The interim authorization is a continuation of a 2021 agreement between the First Nations and DFO which allows the First Nations to support a “moderate livelihood” in Lobster Fishing Areas (LFAs) 33, 34, and 35 during the commercial fishing season. The Canadian government will allow the First Nations up to 6,300 traps cumulatively across the three LFAs for the current and upcoming seasons.
The LFA 33 and 34 seasons are set to start 25 November. The LFA 35 season began 14 October.
The renewal comes at a moment of high tensions in Canada’s lobster fisheries. Canadian fishers claim that fishers from the U.S. are illegally harvesting lobster in Canadian waters. Union of Health and Environment Workers President Shimen Fayad noted Canadian fisheries enforcement officers are refusing to work after being “harassed, threatened, and attacked” with shotguns, knives, and bear spray. According to the union, as many as 35 percent of agents assigned to marine patrols are refusing to report for duty.
“They are exposed to situations where individuals carry weapons like shotguns, hammers, knives, axes, machetes, bear spray and automatic weapons. They have not been provided additional protection from the employer as these attacks have continued,” Fayad told Canada’s Brunswick News. “Right now, some fishery officers are refusing to work in what is clearly an unsafe and unhealthy work environment and the employer is putting pressure on them to return to their posts.”
DFO said in a statement that the refusals to work have not impacted its enforcement activities.
The agency has opened up an investigation into U.S. fishers placing lobster traps on the Canadian side of the border, which it said has been happening since August 2024.
