Sipekne’katik First Nation sues federal government for seizing lobster traps – CBC

Aug 02, 2023

Lawsuit says fisheries officials, coast guard violated right to moderate livelihood fishery

Sipekne’katik First Nation is suing the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard for seizing some of its members’ lobster traps earlier this month in southwest Nova Scotia.

The statement of claim, filed in the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia on July 24, says that on July 18, coast guard staff used a grappling hook to pull traps belonging to Sipekne’katik community member James MacDonald from the waters just off the wharf in Saulnierville, N.S.

When a fisheries guardian with the band approached the coast guard staff member about the seizure, the staff member told them Fisheries and Oceans did not authorize Sipekne’katik fisheries and was therefore confiscating the traps, according to the statement of claim.

The following day, a Sipekne’katik fisheries guardian saw fisheries officers pulling traps belonging to another member, Sheyanne Francis, near the mouth of the Sissiboo River.

Read More: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/sipekne-katik-first-nation-sues-feds-for-pulling-lobster-traps-1.6924123