April 27, 2023
For immediate release – Thursday April 27, 2023
The Prince Edward Island Fishermen’s Association (PEIFA) is disappointed
and frustrated by the efforts of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Canada (DFO) and the Government Canada which has resulted in licenses
not being purchased locally for the Lennox Island First Nation to fish in
pursuit of a moderate livelihood.
Although there is no legal definition for the term “moderate livelihood”,
agreements have been reached in other jurisdictions regarding this type of
fishery.
The recent announcement concerning the Abegweit First Nation on Prince
Edward Island is a good example of putting agreements in place to ensure
the ocean resources are protected by not allowing additional licenses, traps
and nets to be added in established area fisheries.
For over a year now, Lennox Island has been seeking additional lobster
traps for this fishery. The PEIFA has been a strong supporter of the concept
that traps not be added to an area and access be obtained by purchasing
existing licenses. (one license in one license out) This position has also been
strongly supported by the Provincial Fisheries Department of Prince Edward
Island.
During the past year the PEIFA has also been working with DFO and local
fishers in seeking solutions to this challenge.
Expression of Interest letters seeking interested parties in LFA 24 willing to
sell their licenses, were not sent out until late February 2023. These letters
contained language that was unclear and the results DFO was seeking were
not achieved.
Several weeks later, a revised letter was sent out that included suggested
edits by the PEIFA. With the compressed timelines for interested fishers to
make a significant life changing decision so close to the season start, the
desired results were again not achieved.
It should be noted that the valuation of lobster licenses for LFA 24 were
determined by an out of province assessor and did not reflect local values.
During this process, the PEIFA suggested two viable alternative solutions
that would access local traps and not create any new access to the lobster
fishery. Both solutions were turned down by DFO with a concern that the
new solutions would have been “precedent setting”.
The reality is that any decisions surrounding fishing for a moderate
livelihood are “precedent setting”.
DFO has authorized the reallocation of traps / access from other areas of
the gulf to LFA 24 as a solution. This option will be precedent setting and is
not supported by the PEIFA. This option will put increased demand on the
resource.
The PEIFA seriously challenges the efforts of DFO and the Government of
Canada in seeking workable solutions for all fishers to maintain “peace on
the water” while addressing reconciliation with First Nations.
For more information please contact Executive Director Molly Aylward at
molly@peifa.org. or Ian MacPherson Senior Advisor ian@peifa.org.
Telephone: (902) 566-4050
Fax: 902-368-3748
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