Fishermen end harbour blockade

By Erin Pottie

FOR THE SOU’WESTER

Cape Breton boats blocking out-of-province fishermen from their legal catch have returned to shore after a four-day protest over shares of the crab fishery.

Hundreds of supporters, including fellow fishermen, were scattered along the Inverness wharf and others arrived on fishing boats during a rally that ended to the recent blockade.

Four New Brunswick fishing boats were allowed to leave Inverness harbour Sunday at noon after being trapped since Thursday night. Local fishermen who are not allowed to fish nearby crab had planned the blockade to pressure federal fisheries officials into giving them a share of the quota.

“We had a number of extra boats come down last night and help us with the blockade and a few more boats came this morning,” said Inverness fisherman Lawrence MacLellan, who called the 20-30 vessels back to shore using his cellphone.

“We’re trying to take the high road on this, so as of now, I think we’re going to take the blockade down and New Brunswick boats are free to fish. They’re welcome to stay in this harbour — there will be nothing done to them. Hopefully in the future we can fish alongside them,” he said.

MacLellan estimates the New Brunswick vessels take 500,000 pounds of crab, including crab from waters 19 kilometres off Inverness, along the coast and down toward Cheticamp. Meanwhile the four harbours of Inverness, Mabou, Port Hood and Judique do not have a crab allocation though fishers have been seeking a permit for years.

MacLellan said the group has kept friendly ties with New Brunswick fishermen and having met with Nova Scotia Premier Rodney MacDonald were told the premier did not support the harbour blockade, but does support the fishery. A meeting with Cape Breton Canso MP Rodger Cuzner was also said to be positive.

“We’ve got to sit down and start somewhere right — that’s the objective. No one was talking to us,” said MacLellan. “We want access, we want access into Area 18 and I think it’s time that we deserve it because they’re sharing everywhere else in Cape Breton.”

Four members of the four fishing communities with no crab quota are scheduled sit down with Department of Fisheries and Oceans area manager Helen Kerr today (May 19) in Antigonish at 3 p.m.

“We’re not trying to disrupt their fishery at all,” said Mabou fisherman Trevor MacInnis, who was glad the blockade ended without incident. “We feel it’s an injustice that’s been done to our community, to our side of the island.”

MacInnis says the fishermen want a share of crab fishing Area 18 by means of a small or four-trap permit that would amount to approximately 8,000 pounds of crab.

Ned MacDonald, an area councillor and deputy warden for Inverness County, said the fight for crab quota has been ongoing but suggested hard times may have sparked the recent protests.

“It wasn’t easy for them, it came out of frustration, but I think they obtained their objective. They got the message out. All they want is fairness and to share in this quota,” he said.

“This is one area that does not share in the quota. Every other part of the island is sharing and these fishermen have been fighting this for years.”

(ERIN POTTIE IS A JOURNALIST WITH TRANSCONTINENTAL MEDIA'S CAPE BRETON POST, WHICH IS A CONTRIBUTOR TO THE SOU'WESTER.)