The following points are intended to address these myths and make way for a clearer understanding of the Marshall decision and its implications. Aboriginal people can fish commercially as they like without rules, licences, seasons, or enforcement. The Supreme Court's Marshall decision confirmed that while the affected First Nations have a treaty right to fish commercially, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans also has authority to regulate that fishery. In the Aboriginal fishery as in other fisheries, licence conditions will specify appropriate, conservation-oriented levels of fishing effort. All interim fishing agreements signed so far with First Nations provide for commercial fishing to be conducted in the regular commercial season.
Conservation remains the top priority.
DFO is strengthening enforcement for all who participate in the fishery. An extra-large class of some 50 Fishery Officers will soon graduate and enter the field. In the Maritimes and Quebec, DFO will have 23 more Fishery Officers this year than last. The Aboriginal commercial fishery will displace the entire commercial fishery. This level of effort is very modest in comparison with the 44,000 commercial fishermen operating 23,000 vessels.