Currently, many members of Burnt Church First Nation are successfully fishing under DFO authorization, using 3,900 DFO tags. Another 1,200 tags have been offered for use by the Burnt Church First Nation, but have not been accepted by the First Nation. Once Burnt Church First Nation signs an interim fishing agreement, assistance can come into play towards vessels, gear, community wharf facilities, and other benefits under discussion in negotiations. Meanwhile, some parties at Burnt Church First Nation have tried to set lobster traps using their own trap tags rather than DFO tags. This contravenes conservation and an orderly fishery, and we have seized those traps.
Tags are critical to controlling the fishery and conserving the stock.
Each trap needs to be linked to a licensed fisherman. Without that link, we can t tell how many traps are in the water, or if poachers are engaged in overfishing. Making your own trap tags with no controls is like printing your own money. For the government to accept First Nations trap tags, there have to be clear agreements and tight controls. We are open to those kinds of discussions.