The Lax Kw'alaams Band, representing members of the nine Allied Tsimshian Tribes, is currently in court challenging the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) over proposed fishing restrictions in the Northern Shelf Bioregion. The band argues that the implementation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the region lacks proper consultation and will negatively affect their fishing interests.
(Map showing Northern Shelf Bioregion area)
In a press release, the Lax Kw'alaams Band stated, "We are seeking a judicial review of the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans’ decision to endorse the MPA network and implement fishing restrictions in the Northern Shelf Bioregion (NSB)." The NSB spans 102,000 square kilometers, from North Vancouver Island to the Alaskan Canadian border, an area heavily fished by the Lax Kw'alaams commercial fleet.
The band expressed concerns over the lack of meaningful consultation, noting that only 15 out of 42 First Nations in the region endorsed the MPA Network. They emphasized that the socio-economic and cultural impacts of the MPA network have not been adequately analyzed or mitigated by the DFO.
Garry Reece, mayor of Lax Kw'alaams, highlighted the frustration with the Canadian government's approach, stating, "All we’re asking is that Canada seriously considers how this plan could impact our fisheries and way of life, and work with us to mitigate these impacts. It’s 2024 — how much longer will we have to wait for Canada to uphold its duty to consult Indigenous Peoples?"
Stan Dennis Jr, Galmalgyax/Speaker of the Allied Tsimshian Tribes Association, echoed these sentiments, calling for a collaborative consultation process designed with Indigenous Peoples. He criticized DFO's management of fisheries, pointing out the declining herring and salmon populations under their control.
The DFO website acknowledges the pressures on the Northern Shelf Bioregion, citing factors such as increasing seafood demand, pollution, and climate change as contributors to habitat and species declines. The agency views the MPA Network as a crucial tool for preserving the region's resources.
Black Press Media has contacted Fisheries and Oceans Canada for comments on the court proceedings.
Source: Thom Barker (June 13, 2024). North Coast FN takes DFO to court over proposed fishing restrictions. The Abbotsford News. https://www.abbynews.com/news/north-coast-fn-takes-dfo-to-court-over-proposed-fishing-restrictions-7383387
