Representatives of the $45-million Maritime elver fishery are calling on the federal government to implement enforceable regulations for moderate livelihood fishing by Indigenous people.
The federal government has served notice it intends to close the commercial fishery for baby eels or elvers in the Maritimes this year six weeks before the season is set to open.
Canada cut the lucrative Maritime commercial baby eel fishery by 14 per cent this week and gave that quota to Mi'kmaw bands to implement a treaty right to earn a moderate living from fishing.
The federal government may cut the commercial elver quota by 14 per cent this year to increase Mi'kmaw access to the lucrative Maritime fishery for baby eels.