A group of shrimp harvesters from Nunatsiavut, Canada, are facing a standoff with the government over the allocation of their 2024 communal shrimp quota. The harvesters, who have been denied allocations from the quota, are threatening to take legal action if the issue is not resolved.

Quota Allocation Sparks Controversy

The controversy centers around the allocation of 43% of the quota to an Inuit designate, Greg Flowers, who will be fishing with an offshore factory-freezer trawler. This decision has displaced six inshore harvesters who have been fishing for years with smaller, inshore boats. The harvesters claim that the allocation decision is unfair and raises questions of conflict of interest.

The harvesters have raised concerns about conflict of interest involving current and past members of the Nunatsiavut government. They point to federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) documentation from 2003 that dictates that the shrimp quota is to be assigned specifically to inshore fishermen. The harvesters are also critical of the fact that the recommendation to give Flowers the quota came from a policy advisory committee that the current minister is not part of.

Government Defends Decision

The Nunatsiavut government has defended its decision, saying that Flowers was given considerations that complemented the investment he has put into his fishing enterprise. The government has also implemented a policy that favors harvesters who own their own boats and can make long-term business plans.

The dispute has escalated with the harvesters hiring a lawyer, who has sent a letter to Johannes Lampe, president of the Nunatsiavut Assembly, demanding that the shrimp allocations be reinstated to the six inshore harvesters and calling for an independent investigation into how the allocation decision was made. The letter was accompanied by a petition signed by over 120 Inuit, who held demonstrations outside Nunatsiavut government offices.

DFO Not Investigating

The DFO has stated that it will not be conducting investigations into how the shrimp allocations are being distributed by the license holder. This decision has been met with criticism from the harvesters, who feel that the government is not taking their concerns seriously.

The dispute has implications for the shrimp industry in Nunatsiavut, with the shrimp fishery expected to open soon in fishing Zones 4 and 5.