Premier Stephen McNeil has weighed in on a dispute between indigenous lobster fishers and the federal government.<\/p>\n
Members of the Mi\u2019kmaq community around St. Mary's Bay in Nova Scotia's south shore, have said they will start to assert their right to a make a moderate livelihood by establishing their own fishery.<\/p>\n
That has sparked protests in recent days by non-indigenous Canadians who want the department of fisheries and oceans to pull the traps out of the water for what they\u2019re calling illegal fishing.<\/p>\n
During a press briefing follow Thursday\u2019s cabinet meeting, Premier McNeil called on everyone involved to take a breath.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I\u2019m asking for citizens, that cooler heads needs to prevail and be respectful in this dispute. The last thing we need is to see this escalate to the point where decisions are made that cause either public damage or private damage, or quite honestly, leaves a lasting legacy that I don\u2019t think anyone wants,\u201d said McNeil.<\/p>\n
The Supreme Court ruled in 1999 that First Nations people have the right to a communal food, social and ceremonial fishery and to make a moderate livelihood.<\/p>\n
Two decades later, the two sides still haven\u2019t reached an agreement on how to reconcile that decision.<\/p>\n