Some Mi’kmaq harvesters say working inside Ottawa’s quotas for the contentious child eel fishery helps calm the tense ambiance of their river workplaces.
Within the shallows of the Gold River final Friday night time, because the tiny, translucent eels often called elvers emerged from the mud, Jay Pennell — a member of the close by Wasoqopa’q First Nation — swept his nets backwards and forwards by the water and recalled previous confrontations.
“There’s been numerous incidents on rivers we’ve been on in prior years,” Pennell mentioned. “However proper right here on Gold River, there’s been nothing this 12 months …. It’s very peaceable.”
By day he’s a carpenter locally 75 kilometres southwest of Halifax; at night time he dons hip waders and dips a mesh web within the chilly tidal river, catching a 2025 quota allotted by the Kwilmu’kkw Maw-klusuaqn, or KMK — the executive arm of the Meeting of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs.
Pennell mentioned that earlier than Ottawa negotiated the KMK fishery, relations had been poor with non-Indigenous fishers harvesting the river. Below the brand new system, the First Nations underneath the KMK umbrella have unique rights.
And Pennell mentioned when Division of Fisheries and Oceans officers arrive, he refers them to the “river monitor,” a member of the KMK workforce who logs every fisher’s harvest. “I discover DFO is much more respectful this 12 months once they come right down to the water than up to now,” he mentioned.

That’s a pointy distinction with the strains elsewhere within the province between federal enforcement and Indigenous fishers who aren’t accepting federal limits.

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On April 26, a fisherman from Sipeknekatik First Nation, one in every of three communities rejecting Ottawa’s quota system, was charged with assault with a weapon for allegedly backing his automotive right into a fisheries officer who wished to examine his catch. Days earlier, 4 males had been arrested for fishing with out licences and 60 kilograms of elvers — value about $100,000 — had been seized and launched again into the Musquodoboit River.
Justin Martin, who oversees the KMK program, mentioned his workforce of 9 is making progress in establishing the “communal” fishery, even amid the occasional harshly worded social media publish from Mi’kmaq fishers who criticize the catch limits being imposed.
“There’s a public notion of lawlessness on this fishery and that’s not the case. We have now lots of of fishers actively demonstrating self-governed, conservation-based administration,” Martin mentioned in an interview Friday.
Below the principles negotiated with Ottawa, the eight First Nations in KMK have acquired a complete quota of simply over 1,900 kilograms — about 20 per cent of the overall elver catch for the Maritimes. This quota and unique entry to sure rivers was shifted from the industrial licence-holders, who’ve acquired no compensation for the switch.
Martin mentioned the communities concerned have opted to permit a lot of fishers with small most catches, based mostly on the Mi’kmaq precept of “Netukulimk,” which roughly interprets as “take solely what you want.”
He mentioned that’s meant about 750 fishers had been allotted an preliminary minimal quota of 1 kilogram, with the power to use for as much as 4 extra kilograms after they catch their first kilogram. As well as, he mentioned KMK prohibits using “extremely environment friendly” fyke nets, a funnel-shaped web that may catch massive portions of elvers.
Stanley King, a supervisor with industrial licence holder Atlantic Elver Fishery Ltd., mentioned in a latest electronic mail that whereas reconciliation with First Nations “is a worthwhile pursuit,” the family-owned companies have misplaced massive parts of their livelihood. He mentioned it’s merely mistaken that Ottawa hasn’t supplied compensation.
He additionally mentioned it’s unfair KMK fishers are permitted to trace their catch on a separate app earlier than the knowledge is transferred to the federal “Elver Monitoring and Traceability” app his workers use. He worries that opens the door to a few of the catch not being reported.
Debra Buott-Matheson, a spokeswoman for DFO Maritimes, mentioned in an electronic mail that the division is working with KMK to make sure info from their harvesters is entered into their system.


Costs, in the meantime, have plunged this season, from highs of about $5,000 per kilogram two seasons in the past to present ranges of $1,500 per kilogram — a priority for longtime elver fishers and the brand new Indigenous entrants.
David Bishop, one other Wasoqopa’q fisher engaged on the Gold River, mentioned that whereas he appreciates the calm on the water, the tight catch limits imply small returns for the trouble he places in. He thinks dedicated fishers like him who’re keen to place in lengthy hours ought to get a better quota.
“There are individuals who could also be right here just some days who’ve the correct to have the identical catch I’ve,” he mentioned.
With present costs, 5 kilograms of elvers brings in about $7,500, a fraction of the roughly $30,000 Pennell mentioned he may earn a number of seasons in the past when costs had been greater.
Nevertheless, he mentioned he’s hopeful in future seasons costs will return to outdated ranges. And the elver revenue helps his daughter, who fishes her quota alongside him, to cowl bills like her college tuition.
“That is the primary 12 months. We’re going to be taught from this and construct on it,” he mentioned.
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