Fisheries in the Gulf of St Lawrence (Canada) by seven Innu communities

In 1990 the Supreme Court of Canada have recognized with the Sparrow decision that First Nations have an Aboriginal right to "fish for food, social and ceremonial" (FSC) purposes. Following the Sparrow decision, Department of... [ view full abstract ]

In 1990 the Supreme Court of Canada have recognized with the Sparrow decision that First Nations have an Aboriginal right to "fish for food, social and ceremonial" (FSC) purposes. Following the Sparrow decision, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)has launched in 1992 the Aboriginal Fisheries Strategy (AFS) to support and supervise FSC fisheries. This strategy applies in areas where DFO manages fisheries and also where land claim settlements have not already established fisheries management regimes. Among the 11 First Nations living in the province of Quebec, Canada, some Innu communities acquired their first ships and fishing licenses in the mid-1990s.

In 1999, the Marshall ruling have gone further by recognizing Aboriginals rights to participate in the various kinds of fisheries and to be able to sell their catches under one of the 18th century treaties. As a result of this ruling, several DFO initiatives and programs were created to allow First Nations to expand their access to fisheries through negotiations, including contributions in the form of fishing boats, negotiated quotas, fishing equipment and specific trainings. The Aboriginal Aquatic Resources and Oceans Management Program (AAROM) is one of these initiatives and helped Innu communities to work together and join efforts.

In the following decades, the income from fisheries became very important and essential for seven Innu communities, whose total population is around 11,000 people. Some of them have developed very well: they own several fishing boats, they are fishing several species, some of them own seafood processing factories, some own their own fish shop and some are looking to start in aquaculture.

For the first time for the Innu communities of the province of Quebec, this field of economy have been built by combining traditional knowledge with current laws and science knowledge. This presentation will present the journey of industrialization of fisheries for the Innu communities from the beginning up to present days.