Sipekne'katik First Nation lobster boats at Saulnierville wharf. (Acadia News Photo)
South Shore-St. Margarets MP Rick Perkins claims there are not enough protections in place to protect indigenous fishers.
For Perkins, the issue is of particular importance as he represents portions of LFA 33 and 34 which represent the largest lobster fishery in the country. He also was recently appointed as Shadow Minister for Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard.
With Perkin’s first-ever remarks on the House of Commons floor, he questioned his opposite, Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray about the disparity between rules for indigenous and commercial fishers.
“Newly licensed moderate livelihood fishers are not required to have their vessels or crews, government-trained or certified like all other commercial fishermen, why is the Government so callously putting the lives of indigenous fishermen at risk?”
Minister Murray avoided the question saying the DFO makes all decisions with conservation taken into consideration as the top priority.
During his question, Perkins brought up the case of Miss Janet as an example of the consequences.
On the morning of October 4, 2021, crew members aboard the indigenous fishing vessel awoke to find their captain missing. The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre launched a search to locate the missing captain but failed in doing so.
The lobster season was set to start in Nova Scotia this week but many fisheries have delayed the start of their season due to weather.
