Intervenor status has been granted in another Indigenous fishing court case in Nova Scotia Supreme Court.
The Unified Fisheries Conservation Alliance, which represents thousands of commercial fishers, was granted the status in Potlotek First Nation’s case against the provincial government.
The first nation in Cape Breton is challenging Nova Scotia’s regulations around the sale of fish, saying they violate their right to a moderate livelihood.
The regulations state that only those who possess a federally-approved license can sell their catch.
This is the second time this fall that the UFCA were granted intervenor status, the first time was during Potlotek’s case against DFO that challenged their enforcement of moderate livelihood lobster fisheries.
In a release, UFCA President Colin Sproul says any departure from a scientifically based conservation regime could put sustainability at risk.
He says being granted intervenor status will give the Supreme Court the most complete information available for consideration.
Sproul says their goal is to work with the government and first nations to inform and understand viewpoints and establish regulatory certainty that ensures conservation of the fishing industry for years to come.
