Sipekne'katik and Ottawa Report Progress in Resolving Longstanding Lobster Fishery Dispute

Negotiations over Mi'kmaq treaty-based fishing rights show significant advancements after 17 mediation meetings, delaying court proceedings until June 2025.

• Sipekne'katik First Nation and the federal government have made meaningful progress in negotiations over the band's treaty-based lobster fishery in Nova Scotia, marking the first substantial dialogue in 25 years.
• The First Nation asserts its right to fish for a moderate livelihood outside commercial seasons, citing the 1999 Supreme Court ruling in the Marshall case, which confirmed Mi'kmaq treaty rights but allowed federal regulation.
• Tensions remain with commercial fishers, represented by the Unified Fisheries Conservation Alliance, who argue the out-of-season fishery harms lobster stocks and local livelihoods.
• A trial originally scheduled for May 2025 has been delayed to allow further negotiations, with the court setting a new deadline of June 16, 2025, for litigation to resume if no resolution is reached.
• The ongoing talks, involving 17 lengthy meetings since June, are described by Sipekne'katik's lawyer as a critical step toward resolving a centuries-old dispute over fishing rights.

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