Deeper cuts than expected leave crabbers angry

The department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has a different definition of “meaningful consultation” than one New Brunswick First Nation.

Listuguj Mi’gmaq First Nation is preparing for one of their toughest years with a government-imposed 63 per cent cut in the harvesting quota of snow crab.

DFO made the announcement in April.

The band’s natural resources department said major decisions made by the federal ministry did not include proper consultation with affected First Nations. However, a spokesperson for DFO referred to a specific meeting on March 10 in Moncton, N.B. that allowed both government and First Nations communities to discuss the 2010 Snow Crab Management Plan.

“According to our views it’s not meaningful consultation, based on what we feel consultation should be,” said Listuguj Mi’gmaq Assistant Director of Natural Resources Delphine Metallic. She attended the government advisory meeting on behalf of her band.

The meeting allowed stakeholders of the snow crab industry an opportunity to voice their concerns about the severe slash of total allowable catch (TAC).

Metallic said she took the opportunity to voice the frustration of her entire First Nation that expected a reduction in the snow crab TAC, but only budgeted for a 40 per cent decrease.

According to Metallic, last year’s TAC for Listuguj was 801 metric tonnes, but this year it has plummeted to 295 metric tonnes.

“The stock collapsing was so severe that a steep cut was recommended,” said the department of Fisheries and Oceans spokesperson Nelson Kalil.

Metallic said a representative from Fisheries and Oceans should have traveled to the First Nation to discuss the impacts of their decision with every stakeholder. That is the definition of meaningful consultation, according to the Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government.

In a press release on April 23, Listuguj stated that it is seeking compensation for the economic loss they will experience from the new plan.

Kalil said, in the past, his department has issued relief packages for lobster fishers, but he could not confirm the snow crab stakeholders would receive similar compensation.

Listuguj forecasts the cut in their snow crab catch will equate to a $1.7 million loss of revenue. Metallic said Listuguj relies on the profits they earn from their snow crab industry to help support post-secondary and language programs for their band.

Metallic stressed that conservation is a priority for Listuguj, but concern over the loss of revenue is still an issue.

Other snow crab fishermen in New Brunswick have publicly voiced their concerns around job security now that the TAC has dwindled. Since the announcement, protests have begun, which demand for Canada’s Fisheries Minster Gail Shea to resign.

Shea has responded to the attacks by stressing the importance of conserving snow crab stocks in order for them to rebound in 2012.

Listuguj is one of the largest Mi’gmaq communities on the East Coast and is located on the border of Quebec and New Brunswick.

Snow crabs are caught in traps, from sandy bottoms in depths of one to 470 metres. The fishing season runs from April to November.