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Amherst, NS - 15 First Nations Fishers are happy to see the boycott on the Snow Crab fishery will be lifted and fishers will be going out into the gulf by the end of this week.

Snow Crab fishers and plant workers protested the cut in quota during the weekend of May 9, 2003 that resulted in four fishing vessels, a fish processing plant and a Department of Fisheries and Oceans Office being burned. Snow Crab fishers in the area then boycotted the fishery in hopes of bringing the quota back to what it was last year.

"It is good to see that we won’t miss out on the snow crab season this year so that our communities can benefit from the economic and social rewards that will come with the fishery", said Listuguj (Restigouche) Chief Allison Metallic.

Sources indicate that the traditional Snow Crab fishers agreed to go fishing this week. Mi’kmaq Fishers and non-Aboriginal inshore fishermen had given a deadline of this week before they would go fish Snow Crab.

"Our fishermen are relieved that the boycott will be lifted and they will be able to get out on the water this week and avoid any situations that may be harmful to many of the fishermen", commented Big Cove Chief Robert Levi. "Lifting the boycott and avoiding potential violence in the waters shows our Mi’kmaq Fishers that a meaningful relationship can be forged in order to have a well managed fishery."

The Mi’kmaq Fishers, along with the inshore crab fishers, vowed that they would have begun their fishery this week regardless of the boycott since the season was getting late and they would not be able to benefit from the lucrative fishery.

"It’s a positive step forward in an overall managed fishery that includes the inshore and the Mi’kmaq fishers", said Chief Metallic. "We look forward to a peaceful and beneficial fishing season."

"Our Chiefs also wish to acknowledge the special efforts of Chief Robert Levy of Big Cove in his work to promote a peaceful approach to the Snow Crab situation for his community and the other First Nations affected." stated noted Chief Lawrence Paul, APC Co-Chair.

The Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nation Chiefs is a policy research and advocacy secretariat that analyzes and develops culturally relevant alternatives to Federal policies that impact on the Mi'kmaq, Maliseet and Passamaquoddy First Nation communities and people.