An alliance of commercial fishery stakeholders is looking to be brought to the table for Sipekne’katik First Nation’s legal case against the Government of Nova Scotia.
The Unified Fisheries Conservation Alliance intends to seek intervenor status in Sipekne’katik’s challenge of the regulatory regime governing the purchase and sale of fish and fish products.
UFCA President Colin Sproul spoke about why it’s important for his group to be involved.
“The regulations governing the purchase and sale of fish and fish products directly impact our members who work within commercial fisheries,” said Sproul “UFCA is seeking intervenory status to ensure the perspectives of those who work within the fisheries everyday are heard and considered as far as the court proceedings.”
Sproul also talked about their groups support for indigenous fishers.
“We support Indigenous fishers rights to sell their catch, as they do currently with licenses and quotas that they hold today,” said Sproul. “We are opposed to anyone, indigenous or non-indigenous, selling fish caught outside the federal and provincial regulations.”
The UFCA is also advocating for the Government of Canada to establish clear, lasting, responsible, regulatory oversight for all fisheries.
Established in November of last year, the UFCA represents thousands of multi-species commercial fishermen, fishery associations and associated businesses from Atlantic Canada.
