First Nations want to lead baby eel fishery threatened with closure

By John Chilibeck  Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The Wolastoqey Nation says the only way to ensure a safe and sustainable baby eel fishery is to let Indigenous people lead its management and protection. The Nation, which represents the Indigenous chiefs of the six communities that hug the St. John River, or Wolastoq, in New Brunswick issued a statement in reaction to a letter sent Feb. 13 by federal fisheries minister Diane Lebouthillier, who told 12 baby eel, or elver, licence holders in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia she was probably going to suspend the fishery this season. It was set to begin in about a month. “As acknowledged by the minister of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, our Nation’s lack of access to the elver fishery continues to be…

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