Listuguj starts two-week trial lobster season

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Lobster fishers in Listuguj will soon be hauling traps a little closer to home.

Last week, the Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government (LMG) announced that it would be holding a two-week treaty season just to the west of Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 21B. LFA 21B in the Baie des Chaleurs near Carleton, Qc. – about an hour away – where fishers have been catching lobster for more than 20 years.

Starting last Saturday, Listuguj fishers also began fishing further west, in waters adjacent to the community that, until now, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) considered unregulated. It’s referred to as LFA 21B-West.

“We have a total of 15 fishers signed up,” said Denny Isaac, the fisheries director for the LMG. “This year we established [a limit] of 100 traps over a 14-day period and aim to share the access across interested fishers, and set a limit, for safety, of five traps per vessel … 100 traps would allow 20 fishers to access lobster.”

Isaac said that because of the smaller quotas, fishers can use boats much smaller than those normally used, such as a skiff, and they can use the dock in Listuguj if they so choose.

“It’s up to the fishers on where they want to dock their vessel, but the fishery allows for the same vessels used in the salmon fishery. From the Van Horne Bridge to Miguasha, there are other potential docking sites.”

Marie-Ève Caron, spokesperson for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), said the agency is aware of the two-week fishery.

“DFO has authorized a pilot project for experimental lobster fishing west of Area 21B, for the Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government (LMG) from Sept. 30 to Oct. 14,” she said in an email.

“This small-scale project will provide environmental and biological data through dockside monitoring and logbooks. The project will also enable First Nation members to fish lobster close to the community to meet their needs.”

She said the plan was approved after communications with the LMG.

“This project responds to Canada’s commitment, in the Rights Reconciliation Agreement on Fisheries signed in 2021 with the LMG, to work together to increase the First Nation’s access to fisheries resources (and) DFO is working with the First Nation to ensure that the fishery is conducted in compliance with experimental license conditions.”

She noted that DFO, along with Listuguj rangers, will monitor the fishery and “will apply the Interim Lobster Enforcement Protocol signed in September 2022 in a concerted manner, to ensure adequate fisheries monitoring in this sector.”

Reconciliation requires increasing First Nations’ access to resources

Listuguj Chief Scott Martin

Listuguj governs its lobster fishery with its own law – the Listuguj Lobster Law – which is monitored by the rangers.

Denny noted the “new” area had been fished before and that DFO consultation had been ongoing for more than a year.

“The area was always fished by the community, however DFO considered this area unregulated, meaning there was no established lobster fishery here. Under our community law, we engaged the community on a fishing plan and negotiated with Fisheries and Oceans to establish this fishery. Community input is critical in gaining support for management efforts.”

He said to receive the new license, Listuguj developed a conservation harvesting plan, that was then sanctioned by the DFO.

“Reconciliation requires increasing First Nations’ access to resources,” Listuguj Chief Scott Martin said in a released statement. “This new community fishery is a step in the right direction. It means approximately 20 more families will have a chance to get out on the water, exercise their rights, and support themselves.”

Isaac said the lobster population in the Gaspé region is healthy, with record landings being reported.

He said there is a fall fishery currently underway in LFA 21B, where larger commercial lobster boats are used. A total of eight boats are fishing, one owned by the LMG and seven privately operated