Tensions rise on Nova Scotia river as Indigenous eel fishers reject Ottawa rules – Halifax

Two commercial fishermen harvested baby eels under new federal regulations and they believed they had to stop fishing on Sunday night when a large number of Indigenous fishermen arrived on the river and built nets.

Suzy Edwards, an employee of Atlantic Elf Fisheries, said one of the fishermen told her he was from Sipekne’katik First Nation, and they issued a statement that they did not accept Ottawa’s recently imposed system that allocated quotas for profitable harvests.

Under this system, license holders (including 20 Aboriginals of new entrants) provide quotas based on how many people there are in their community.

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Ottawa decided last year that the 9,950 kg permissible catch held by long-term commercial license holders will not be transferred to the Aboriginals.

Edwards and her fishing partner Alan Machardy said the company she worked for retained a federal license to work on the Hubbard under the new system, but they felt they had to stay in the truck after First Nations arrived and no federal law enforcement officers were coming.

In a recent letter sent to the Federal Fisheries Department, Bob Gloaded, chief of the Millbrook First Nations, said Sipekne’katik, together with his first country, claimed his jurisdiction and developed his own Elf fishing plan, which included their right to fish in which river to choose.

Sipekne’katik’s chief Michelle Glasgow did not immediately respond to an email’s request for comment.

This report by Canadian Press was first released on March 31, 2025.