Mi’kmaw lobster harvesters tell judge ‘they shouldn’t have charged us’ – APTN News

Oct 18, 2022

Three Mi’kmaw lobster harvesters wrapped up their defence Tuesday before a Digby, N.S., judge on charges they were fishing illegally in traditional waters.

James Nevin, Logan Pierro-Howe and Leon Knockwood of Sipekne’Katik First Nation all pleaded not guilty.

They were harvesting lobster to earn a moderate livelihood when they were charged four years ago for fishing without tags by officers of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

Tags are issued by the federal government to keep track of the number of traps that go into the water. They also legislate how many lobsters can be caught.

Mi’kmaw communities, including Sipekne’Katik, issue their own tags under their treaty fishery management plans.

Read More: https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/mikmaw-lobster-harvesters-tell-judge-they-shouldnt-have-charged-us/