Canadian police make angry arrests over lobster scuffle

Police have made two arrests amid rising tensions over a locally-organized lobster fishery in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.

Authorities detained two people for attacking a crowd gathered for the dedication.

Members of Cipcnatic First Nation say they have the right to issue fishing licenses to their own people.

Non-native lobster fishermen, however, say their boats are operating out of season and should be stopped.

The row comes on the anniversary of the verdict confirming the hunting and fishing rights of indigenous groups.

It was ruled in a 1999 ruling that any hunting and fishing should be for moderate livelihoods – but the “medium” is largely uncertain.

Lobster is Nova Scotia’s most valuable seafood export and the related fishing industry has an estimated annual cost of C $ 500m (3,293m).

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On Thursday, Cipcanetic First Nation issued its first license in the port of Saulnirville under its new self-regulated “moderate livelihood” fishing. About 200 people gathered to disembark the boats and a ceremony was held to bless the fleet.

Michael Syck, the head of Cipcinectic, told the crowd that they were exercising their constitutional rights as confirmed in the 1999 ruling.

“Our issue is not about commercial fishermen, it is about not holding on to our rights at the government level,” he was quoted as saying by CTV. “Commercial fishermen should back up now and let us do our job.”

With the unveiling of the new fishing line, a flotilla of boats attached to non-native lobster fishers turned the port’s mouth in protest.

Indigenous fishermen later said their lobster traps had been cut off and flames had been fired at their boats.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said Friday that officers were on the pier and at other nearby locations to try to calm the situation.

Local media reported that a large crowd had gathered at Wharf in Vymmouth, 25 kilometers (15 miles) north of Saulnirville.

“We arrested two people at the ferry in Wei Emmouth,” RCMP spokeswoman Jennifer Clark said, quoting broadcaster CBC. “They were arrested for assault and taken away from the scene and then released from court.”

He said police would maintain a presence in the area over the weekend.

Indigenous leaders on Friday declared a “state of emergency” in response to growing tensions.

Non-native lobster fishermen are calling on the Canadian government to stop new fishing. They say the law that has stopped lobster fishing for several months is important for conservation purposes.

They also allege that indigenous fishing is in fact a commercial operation that eliminates a large number of lobsters – although the leaders of the First Nation have been hotly debated.

Canadian Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan told CBC Nova Scotia News that she wanted to meet with representatives from both sides of the dispute to discuss the “best way forward”.

He said he was confident both sides would come to the table for safety.

“We need to find a place where we can communicate well and make sure we can all listen to each other and not talk to each other. We need to listen to each other and how we best deal with this situation. We need to find out. ” He added.

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In recent years Canada has faced a number of issues related to the rights of indigenous peoples.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal Party came to power promising to change the country’s relations with indigenous communities.

Indigenous peoples in Canada have a right to land, self-reliance and self-government, and the right to adhere to their culture and customs.

Canada has more than 1.6 million Indigenous peoples, including First Nations, Inuit and Matisse, and makes up 5% of the national population.