The University of British Columbia含羞草研究社檚 Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries (IOF) has thrown it含羞草研究社檚 support behind Mi含羞草研究社檏maq lobster fishermen on the grounds that protesters含羞草研究社� claims of a conservation crisis in the Nova Scotia waters are not credible.

含羞草研究社淲e strongly denounce the acts of violence perpetrated against Mi含羞草研究社檏maw harvesters pursuing their rights, and also denounce any claim that such actions are justified in the name of conservation,含羞草研究社� A IOF statement reads. 含羞草研究社淭here is no credibility on biological grounds to the conservation concerns, given the terms of the fishery initiated by the Mi含羞草研究社檏maw community.含羞草研究社�

The follows a tense week in the Atlantic province where non-Indigenous protesters clashed with Sipekne含羞草研究社檏atik fishermen and vandalized property.

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The Sipekne含羞草研究社檏atik are conducting a fishery outside of the federally regulated season based on a 1999 Supreme Court of Canada decision ruling East Coast Indigenous groups have the right to fish for a 含羞草研究社渕oderate livelihood,含羞草研究社� though a second ruling stated this was subject to federal regulation.

含羞草研究社淲e respect the rule of law and abhor the use of violence for settling disputes,含羞草研究社� IOF stated.

The school含羞草研究社檚 stance follows an identical statement of solidarity from Dalhousie University含羞草研究社檚 Department of Biology.

Both institutions are calling on Canada含羞草研究社檚 fisheries minister, Bernadette Jordan, to support the creation of a fisheries management regime that embraces Mi含羞草研究社檏maw rights and establishes new and effective measures for conservation and fishermen含羞草研究社檚 livelihoods in the coastal communities.

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