Outrage in Newfoundland as Indigenous groups get cut of Arctic surf clam fishery

Federal Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc's decision to cleave off 25 per cent of the lucrative Arctic surf clam fishery and give it to a newly formed consortiumof Indigenous groups has blindsided those who have depended on the industry on Newfoundland's Burin Peninsula for decades.

"This is an unprecedented move," Grand Bank Mayor Rex Matthewstold CBCRadio's The Broadcast. "To come in and expropriate 25 per cent of a quota that we've had for the last 27 years."

Inwhat the federal government calls a step toward reconciliation, a quarter of the quota is being movedfrom Grand Bankwhere Clearwater Seafoods has a monopoly on Arctic surf clams and is being given to the new Five Nations Premium Clam Co., which is comprised of First Nations from the five easternmost provinces.

• Indigenous groups, Cape Breton company get slice of lucrative Arctic surf clam fishery

The new group will partner with Premium Seafoods ofArichat, Nova Scotiato harvest, process and market the catch. The CEO of Premium Seafoods isEdgarSamson, whose brother is Nova Scotian Liberal MP Darrell Samson.

Devastating blow to Grand Bank

Matthews said the processing plant in Grand Bank employs about 150 full-time positions, year round. As well, there are three technologically advanced ships, each employing about 60 people. One of the vessels was bought last year for $70 million.

Matthew saidLeBlanc's decision makes it clear his department doesn't care about a sustainable, full-time fishery in Newfoundland.

"This isn't creating one new job at all. All it's doing is taking full time jobs from Grand Bank and making them part time, and putting other part time jobs in Nova Scotia," he said.

"If that's the minister's answer to reconciliation then I don't see much hope for the reconciliation process."

N.L. fisheries minister responds

Newfoundland and Labrador Fisheries Minister Gerry Byrne is also furious with the decision of his federal counterpart.

Byrne said LeBlanc should have done proper consultation and acted in step with precedent by offering to buy part of the quota from a willing seller, instead of "confiscating" it from Clearwater's thriving, modern operation in Grand Bank.

"There is absolutely no way shape or form that this will be a 12 month-a-year operation in Grand Bank," he said."So we've taken a 21st century model plant and moved it back to the 19thcentury."

Byrne said it's also unacceptable that DFO is being so mum on what Indigenous groups make up theFive Nations Premium Clam Co., saying even senior DFOofficials he's talked with in Ottawa and Newfoundland and Labrador are in the dark about that fact.

CBC has asked DFOto identify the Indigenous groups involved, but did not receive that information and was toldto contact Chief Aaron Sock of the Elsipogtog First Nation in New Brunswick, who is the spokesman for theFive Nations Premium Clam Co.

In an interview with the Canadian Press, Sock said the consortium includes two Innu communities from Quebec and Labrador, and threeMi'kmaq bandsfrom the Maritime provinces.

While he supports the principles behind reconciliation with Canada's Indigenous people, Byrnequestions why Ottawa doesn't considerother federally-regulatedindustries besides the fishery when it comes to providing opportunities for Indigenous groups.

"Phone up the national broadcasters, phone up those who are involved in the cell phone industry, phone up those who are involved in the banking industry and tll them 'Oh by the way when you go and seek a new licence, you better have an Indigenous partner or you're not going to be eligible for your licence,'" he said.

"I wonder what the reaction would be then."