Pictou Landing reports peaceful season of moderate livelihood lobster fishery
CBC
Generations of Craig Francis's family have fished the waters between Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, so being a part of Pictou Landing First Nation's moderate livelihood fishery is a big deal for him.
"It's nice to have our rights recognized," he said. "We were given these inherent rights, so to go out and do that on our own and have support with DFO and local fishermen is pretty good."
Francis is one of the community members designated by the First Nation to fish lobster under the plan. It's the community's first moderate livelihood plan with an understanding from Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
DFO said when it announced the plan in April that it is another part of reconciliation, with the season running at the same time as the commercial season.
It follows tensions on the water last year. The First Nation said that's when some fishing gear and traps were seized by DFO before being later returned to the community.
This season has been free of incidents, said Alfred Young, the community liaison for Pictou Landing's Netukulimk fisheries plan.
He credits both parties for putting in a lot of work since then to build a better relationship.
"The number one thing is peace and safety and unity, having everybody come together," Young said.
Netukulimk, Young explained, means use of the natural bounty provided by the Creator for the self support and well-being of the community.
And the community, he said, has been keen to get involved in the Netukulimk lobster fishery.
"There are families out here all coming together in this community plan implemented by our treaty rights in the most peaceful way and we're here exercising our moderate livelihood," he said.
Fishers must use traps marked with tags that are officially issued by Pictou Landing First Nation, which has a total allocation of 900 traps.
It is a plan DFO said does not represent increased fishing in the specified areas of the Northumberland Strait.
Many of the approximately 25 people fishing are going out in smaller 14- to 16-foot boats launched from the beach on the shore of the First Nation.
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