The Nunatsiavut Government is taking the position that the recent decision of Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray to deny an increase in shrimp quotas in waters directly adjacent to the Labrador Inuit Settlement Area violates the spirit and intent of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement (LILCA).
“We have a Constitutionally-protected right to new fishing opportunities within and adjacent to Nunatsiavut, something Minister Murray continues to blatantly ignore,” says Nunatsiavut President Johannes Lampe. “She has dismissed our calls for increased access to shrimp in shrimp fishing area (SFA) 4, which is directly adjacent to our shores, opting instead to continue providing a proportional share of the resource to outside interests. As no other entities or groups in Labrador are adjacent to this resource, Nunatsiavut should be the primary benefactor of any increases in quota.”
The Nunatsiavut Government is calling on Minister Murray to revisit her decision, as part of Canada’s commitment to reconciliation, and to reallocate quotas in SFA4, with Labrador Inuit being the primary benefactors.
At the same time, adds President Lampe, Minister Murray needs to be reminded that Labrador Inuit also have rights to Northern shrimp in portions of the Davis Strait Eastern Assessment Zone (EAZ) that lie within Nunatsiavut waters.
“We have reached out to Minister Murray many times in an effort to bring our concerns directly to her before any decisions were made on quota allocations and access. The Minister has not responded to letters that have been written to her, or to our requests for meetings. This is not the nation-to-nation relationship we expect from Canada.”
The Nunatsiavut Government will continue to push for a meeting with the Minister in advance of any decisions regarding Northern shrimp in the Davis Strait EAZ.