Chief Junior Gould of Abegweit First Nation, federal Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray, and Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Marc Miller have signed a Collaborative Fisheries Management Agreement. It affirms the band’s right to participate in a moderate livelihood fishery. It’s a five-year renewable agreement that includes:
- Recognizing Mi’kmaq Indigenous treaty rights to harvest and sell fish.
- Funding for Abegweit First Nation to strengthen its capacity for fisheries management.
- Establishing joint structures and processes for a collaborative fisheries management approach.
Murray also announced funding of $1.47 million over the next four years for the Abegweit Conservation Society to help it protect two culturally significant species on PEI that are at risk – Atlantic salmon and American eel.
