A really very big deal for us’: 3 Mi’kmaw First Nations excited about moderate livelihood fisheries – CBC

May 17, 2023

Potlotek, We’koqma’q and Eskasoni are sharing 4,600 lobster traps around Cape Breton

Three Mi’kmaw communities are celebrating their dramatically increased roles in the lobster fishery around Cape Breton Island this spring.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans announced Tuesday it has renewed moderate livelihood understandings with Potlotek and We’koqma’q, and now Eskasoni has joined them.

Eskasoni Chief Leroy Denny said he is excited because up to 70 fishers will now be out on the water hauling in traps and earning a living.

“It’s a really good thing, a really very big deal for us,” he said.

Under interim understandings, the bands will fish during the commercial season, which is open now around Cape Breton and closes in mid-July.

Read More: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/mikmaw-first-nations-excited-about-moderate-livelihood-fisheries-1.6845970