The Winding Glass: Don't Fear Expansion of Native Seafood Rights
The Canadian lobster industry is in turmoil over first nation fishing rights. In 1999 the Canadian supreme court ruled that Mi'qmaq and other First Nations had harvest rights that had to be recognized by the Canadian government. For decades, this was never implemented.
For that reason, the Sipekne'katik First Nation began a test case, issuing 11 licenses themselves, limited to 50 traps each, and beginning to fish lobster in southwestern Nova Scotia during the closed season.
This led to riots, the burning of lobster pounds, attacks on boats...
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