Tag Archives: baby eel or elvers
Court won’t overturn decision to cut quota from N.S., N.B. elver licence holders
Three judges have delivered another blow to beleaguered commercial groups that fish for lucrative juvenile eels in the Maritimes, agreeing with a lower court ruling that upheld Ottawa’s 2022 decision to transfer a portion of their quota to First Nations without compensation. The Federal Court of Appeal heard arguments in the case last week in Halifax, and emerged with a decision that found the federal fisheries minister had “broad discretion” and had used it reasonably. Tien Nguyen, a pioneer in Canada’s fishery for young eels, also known as elvers, said he had hoped the judges would address the “absolute power” of the fisheries minister to make decisions that have enormous financial impact on licence holders. “It’s just like you build up the business, you struggle with it for a number of years, and when it’s finally successful, the government decided to take it away from you,” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 15:40
Canada gives Mi’kmaq 14% of lucrative Maritime elver fishery for 2nd year
For a second year, the federal government is giving Mi’kmaw First Nations 14 per cent of the lucrative Maritime fishery for baby eels — or elvers — without compensating commercial licence holders. The transfer implements the Mi’kmaw treaty right to fish for a moderate living, but also sets the stage for further court challenges by commercial elver licence holders. “I’m quite confident that we will be taking legal action based on this again,” said Michel Samson, a lawyer representing Wine Harbour Fisheries. Wine Harbour is one of several licence holders in federal court trying to overturn the 2022 decision, saying it was unfair and rushed. >click to read< 08:59
