April 17, 2024
Native fishermen seek a shared elver fishery
Henry Bear intends to export 10,000 pounds of elvers to Maine in accordance with treaty and trade agreements made in 1760 and 1776. Photo courtesy fo Maryland Fishery Resources Office, USFWS
As the 2024 elver season begins in Maine, Maliseet harvesters in New Brunswick plan to add their catches to the supply. “We’re planning on importing 10,000 pounds to sell to buyers in Maine,” says Henry Bear, a Maliseet leader based in Maine.
According to Bear, the 1760 Treaty with Great Britain and the 1776 Treaty with the U.S. recognize the rights of the Maliseet people to fish in their unceded aboriginal territory, and the Canadian Supreme Court has recognized the rights of cross-border…
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Paul Molyneaux is the Boats & Gear editor for National Fisherman.
