Three decades ago, when my children were young, my parents acquired a small piece of land on the Cabot Trail at Birch Plain. One of the many memories during visits to “BP” is sunrise over the Atlantic coast and the many small lobster boats on the water hauling traps in the early dawn.
Fishing off BP
One concern for these lobster fishers and those around the coasts of Atlantic Canada is the role of large corporate fishing interests in the harvest of the lobster stock. Cliff White reports on Clearwater sale of lobster licenses to Membertou First Nation for CAD 25 million in September 9, 2020.
“This transaction builds on and strengthens the business relationship between Clearwater and Membertou, which already includes operating agreements in other Clearwater species, Indigenous employment, and procurement commitments,” the company said. “Clearwater and Membertou First Nation will work collaboratively on our mutual objectives for the offshore lobster fishery: sustainable science-based management of the resource, positive economic growth, and increasing the value of the resource, continued research and development, benefits to local communities, and quality employment.” The Membertou Development Corporation is the business arm of Membertou's operations, and includes a dozen corporate entities across involved in fisheries, hospitality, tourism, and casinos. “Membertou is pleased to make this historic strategic investment in the sustainable and well-managed offshore lobster fishery,” Membertou Chief Terry Paul said. “It further strengthens our relationship with Clearwater, leverages their expertise in offshore fisheries, and builds value for our community and provides additional employment and growth opportunities for our people.".1
The financial resources and large scale fishing technology of the corporate players have allowed them to harvest enormous quantities of lobster and to acquire lobster licences that often result in converting small independently owned operations into employees of the corporate fishery. Paul Withers of CBC reported in 2018 that Clearwater Seafoods held exclusive rights to the entire Nova Scotia offshore lobster fishery.
Wedgeport lobster fisherman Lucien LeBlanc has watched the big blue Clearwater Seafoods trawler Randell Dominaux hauling lobster traps 80 kilometres off the southern tip of Nova Scotia… The Clearwater trawler is working its side of what's known as Lobster Fishing Area 41 — a vast area reserved exclusively for Clearwater in a lobster fishery unique in Canada… It's the only lobster fishing area in Canada with a quota, a yearlong season and no trap limit. All of its annual total allowable catch of 720 tonnes — or nearly 1.6 million pounds of lobster — is caught off southern Nova Scotia.2
This transformation of the lobster harvest to the hands of large corporations is may be the “elephant in the room”
https://i.cbc.ca/1.4597787.1522271051!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_780/randell-dominaux-clearwater-offshore-lobster-fishing-vessel.jpg
that lies behind the aggressive response of some non-indigenous fishers in Nova Scotia to the Mi'kmaw fishers exercising their Supreme Court confirmed treaty right to a “moderate income” harvest of fish
http://www.capebretonliving.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/cape-breton-photo-weekmay418-300x225.jpg
Some argue that the interpretation of this right should limit Mi'kmaw fishers to small craft with an emphasis on moderate catches for moderate income. On the other hand, partnerships of Mi'kmaw communities with corporate fishing interests may provide greater economic benefits to build infrastructure and provide training to community members in the high tech field of deep ocean fishing. The question of economic inequality also needs to be considered. There is one question we can ask ourselves when trying to assess economic inequality in this situation. “Would you change places with a member of a Mi'kmaw community in Nova Scotia?” Neoliberal, poorly regulated, shareholder focused, capitalist corporate interests have a poor record of sharing wealth. The profitability of these corporate interests is often enhanced by paying low wages to foreign workers. The Covid pandemic has shed light on corporate greed. The evolution of the “shareholder first” version of capitalism to the more community responsible, government regulated, “stakeholder capitalism” may be able to provide well paying work for Nova Scotians, indigenous and non-indigenous, in the corporate fishery. More government oversight and scientific management of the fishery is required to conserve stock for “seven generations” and maintain the “sustainable fishery” brand for continued success in marketing the products of Nova Scotia seas. The stakeholders in the Nova Scotia fishery include the people in the small boats on the ocean at dawn. Government has the responsibility to regulate access to the resource so as to encourage these true entrepreneurs to continue to support their families and communities. Atlantic Canada is rich in hard working people in smaller communities who are the fabric of our culture. We all benefit when we sustain the life giving aspects of our environment. A fishery in cooperation with Mi'kmaw communities will also benefit from living with a commitment to harvesting resources in harmony with nature.
References
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