francais

Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Press Release
August 1, 2002
OTTAWA —

THIBAULT ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT-IN-PRINCIPLE WITH BURNT CHURCH

The Honourable Robert G. Thibault, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today announced the signing of an agreement-in-principle between the Government of Canada and the Burnt Church First Nation that contains the key elements of a two-year comprehensive fisheries agreement.

The key elements set out in the agreement-in-principle include enhanced commercial fishery access for the band, training for fishers, the upgrading of commercial vessels, co-operative science projects, the development of a co-operative management capacity, and the establishment of a conservation protocol. As well, funding for community development initiatives will be provided.

The agreement-in-principle also provides for the band to conduct a limited food, social and ceremonial lobster fishery in the fall. Harvests of 25,000 pounds of lobster for food and 5,000 pounds for ceremonial purposes would be authorized. The fishery will be regulated by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and members of the Burnt Church First Nation to ensure adherence to conservation requirements and overall harvest levels. See the attached backgrounder for more details.

"I am very pleased to announce that we have reached this important agreement-in-principle with the Burnt Church First Nation," said Minister Thibault. "Not only will the band receive additional commercial fishery access and other benefits, but I believe reaching this consensus will be a positive development for the entire region. I am hopeful this agreement will mean peace on the water this fall in the Miramichi Bay."

The agreement with Burnt Church is the latest in a series of agreements signed between Fisheries and Oceans Canada and First Nations affected by the Supreme Court’s Marshall decision. To date, the department has signed fisheries agreements with 30 of the 34 First Nations affected by the decision.

KEY ELEMENTS OF AN AGREEMENT-IN-PRINCIPLE FOR A COMPREHENSIVE FISHERIES AGREEMENT WITH BURNT CHURCH

Commercial Fishery Access

  • 21 multi-species lobster licences will be provided in Lobster Fishing Area 23 along with boats and necessary gear, providing Burnt Church with a total of 34 licences.
  • An additional quota of 225 tons of snow crab will be issued providing Burnt Church with a total of 300 tons of snow crab. A midshore vessel will also be provided.

Upgrading of Existing Commercial vessels

  • Funding will be provided to upgrade the condition of existing vessels, replace lost gear, and equip vessels.

Training

  • In year one, training will be provided to 64 trainees for 10 weeks – 5 weeks at sea and 5 weeks in the classroom.
  • In year two, mentors with a practical working knowledge of the fishing grounds will be hired on Burnt Church vessels to assist members of the community fishing for the first time.

Economic Development – Tabusintac Resort

  • Funding will be provided for a study to assess the feasibility of a resort on the Tabusintac River.

Cooperative Science Projects

  • Funding will be provided for a two-year lobster science program in Miramichi Estuary. Employment for twenty people will be provided in this cooperative research program.
  • Funding will also be provided for an assessment of salmon in the Tabusintac River.

Cooperative Fisheries Management Capacity

  • Funding will be provided to enable Burnt Church to develop capacity to cooperate in the management of the fisheries activity in the community. There will also be funding to extend the existing fisheries building.

Community Fisheries Guardians

  • Funding will be provided in the first year to hire eight seasonal guardians, two full-time supervisors, and a manager. It will also pay for two trucks and two patrol vessels.
  • Funding for fisheries guardians will also be provided in year two.
  • Fisheries and Oceans Canada will enter into a Conservation Protocol with the band.

Community Outreach

  • Funding will be provided for community outreach projects.

Food Fishery

  • A fall fishery of 25,000 pounds of lobster for food and 5,000 pounds for ceremonial use will be allowed. Sale of the lobster will be prohibited.
  • In the fall, one trap tag per person will be allowed with a maximum of 4 traps to be fished by one boat. There will be one haul allowed per day with no nighttime fishing, joint patrols, mandatory dockside monitoring, two designated landing sites and conservation requirements.
  • The fall fishery will continue for six weeks or until the quota is reached, whichever comes first.
  • In the spring, there will be no quota. The spring season runs from May 1 to June 30. One trap per member will be allowed with a maximum of 10 traps per boat. Sale of the lobster will be prohibited.

AUGUST 2002

 

STATEMENT BY
THE HONOURABLE ROBERT G. THIBAULT
 MINISTER OF FISHERIES AND OCEANS CANADA
Update on fisheries affected by the
Supreme Court’s Marshall decision

August 1, 2002

I am delighted to be here today with Chief Wilbur Dedam and band councillors from Burnt Church to announce that we have reached an agreement in principle on a Comprehensive Fisheries Agreement with the Burnt Church First Nation.

When I was first appointed minister of Fisheries and Oceans last January, I had a number of priorities – but a key personal objective was to seek solutions to avoid the conflict that has characterised our relationship with Burnt Church over the last three years.

I recognised that achieving a resolution would require an approach built on three essential ingredients: respect, renewal and reconciliation.

Over the past number of months, we have worked hard with the Chief and Council to overcome past differences and establish a dialogue based on respect. And this spirit of cooperation, good will and respect was evident from both sides as we proceeded with discussions during the past fall winter and spring.

The respect and trust that was developed has been a key ingredient in our ability to achieve today`s agreement. This agreement will provide for renewal of our relationship and hope for the future at Burnt Church.

This comprehensive agreement provides a sound foundation for both fisheries management and economic opportunity at Burnt Church. Key to the agreement, and I think, to the long term economic health of Burnt Church, is the enhanced access to the commercial fishery – particular in the areas of lobster and snow crab. This agreement will support over 100 jobs for Burnt Church members in the fishery. These jobs represent long term sustainable employment for Burnt Church members. To support this and to ensure maximum success and benefits for the community, a training program for Burnt Church fishers will take place this year and next. The agreement also provides support for science research, a guardian program, support for involvement of Burnt Church in the management of the fishery, and community outreach, and other items.

The agreement also provides for the band to conduct a limited food, social and ceremonial lobster fishery in the fall – a fishery that will be monitored cooperatively by my department and Burnt Church. Conservation remains a priority for my department and I believe for all users in the Miramichi Bay area. I believe that this is appropriately reflected in this limited and regulated food fishery.

As Minister, I am very pleased to be part of this positive outcome. I believe that this agreement will benefit the Burnt Church First Nation and support the protection and conservation of the resource. This will benefit all those who depend on the resource for their livelihood in the area.

This agreement is an important achievement, but not an end in itself. A key challenge now is reconciliation, the third element of a lasting solution.

We will continue to work with Burnt Church in the implementation of this agreement to further develop our relationship. We also need to support reconciliation in the Miramichi Bay region. I think this agreement provides an important foundation for this work. Aboriginal fishers will be working alongside non-Aboriginal fishers, in the training program and in the general fishery. This only bodes well for future relations among fishers and communities in the Miramichi Bay region.

I am calling on all communities from the Miramichi to turn the page on what has transpired over the last three years – and to commence a new era based on the respect, trust, and friendship that was present when the Acadians and the Mik`maq first met each other close to 400 years ago.

Indeed, if we can take on that challenge in the spirit in which we have worked to date, I am confident of success for Burnt Church, for the fishery, and for the communities at Miramichi Bay.

Chief Dedam, I know that you, your Council, and many people in your community have worked very hard to get to this point. I appreciate the faith that you have shown in taking this important step with us and we all look forward to a productive future.