How the Katew (eel) continues to advance Mi’kmaw Rights
1865 kilograms, 756 registered harvesters and an estimated $3 million in generated income.
Those are the final numbers from an elver fishery proving that Mi’kmaw fisheries governance is not a theory; it’s a working reality.
“This season stands as a landmark in Mi’kmaw fisheries governance and rights implementation,” said Chief Gerald Toney, Annapolis Valley First Nation, and Co-Lead of the Assembly’s Fisheries portfolio. “We showed what it means to accommodate Mi’kmaw fishing Rights.”
In late 2024, the communities of Annapolis Valley, Bear River, Eskasoni, Glooscap, Pictou Landing, Potlotek, Wasoqopa’q, and We’koqma’q developed the Netukulimk Treaty Right Protected (TRP) Fisheries Management Plan to ensure a safe and sustainable elver fishery for Spring 2025 and beyond.
At the start of this year’s elver fishing season, some harvesters may have been surprised by the strict limits on harvesters and catch amounts per river that these management plans set. What proved to be the bigger challenge is that while we expected the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) to uphold those guidelines, reports quickly came in from harvesters saying that Conservation and Protection (C&P) Officers were misinforming our harvesters, telling them they could fish anywhere and suggesting using fyke nets, which could have jeopardized the conservation efforts our communities built into their plan to protect the species. Beyond that, despite our harvesters’ wanting to use the Mi’kmaw reporting system, C&P Officers promoted a separate system, which created unnecessary confusion around reporting.
Thankfully, the Mi’kmaw harvesters involved in the TRP fishery remained dedicated to their community plan, urging others to stay the course, which ultimately ensured success for these individuals and communities. While we went into this fishery knowing that coordination with DFO was crucial for protecting and understanding conservation of the species, the actions of the harvesters showed that Mi’kmaw authority was never ceded; it was actively exercised.
This Netukulimk-first, Mi’kmaw-led and community-based governance model of the fishery not only worked to protect the American eel (Katew) through conservation-based practices but created a strong platform for harvesters to practice their inherent Rights. Mi’kmaq showed that self-governance is the most effective way to ensure that hundreds of harvesters can participate successfully in the fishery, maintain public order and contribute to conservation management. The Mi’kmaq also proved that Rights-holders are dedicated to supporting Mi’kmaw-managed ways, even when faced with challenges and confusion from outside parties.
The efforts of our harvesters brought about community-based fishery solutions that ensured fair market prices, strong harvester safety, and successful industry partnerships with commercial buyers which resulted in high eel quality and minimal losses throughout the supply chain. This collective action can only lead DFO to recognize that the TRP fishery is strong, as is our self-governance, self-determination and stewardship of the resources.
“What harvesters, community leaders and the dedicated team behind the scenes collectively achieved this year was not just a successful harvesting season,” stated Justin Martin, KMK’s Fisheries Manager. “It is a statement of sovereignty, a demonstration of Mi’kmaw authority and proof that even with limited resources, but unlimited heart and will, the Mi’kmaq can lead and manage our own resources.”
While many were excited at the opportunity to bring home extra income, there were also concerns that an unregulated and unmonitored fishery could be harmful to the American eel population. Those working on and developing the TRP Plans heard and recognized that. Conservation efforts – like limiting harvester catch, forbidding the use of fyke nets and ensuring the accurate and constant tracking of the harvest – were built into the harvesting plan to ensure that communities benefited from an elver fishery, while also putting safeguards in place to protect the future of this species. As of the season closure on May 3, 2025, harvesters had reached within 5 percent of the Total Allowable Catch (TAC), and leadership advised purposefully leaving over 50 kilograms of TAC in the water to help protect the lifecycle of the American eel.
“We’ve heard loud and clear that our people wanted to harvest but that elver fishing is not just an economic activity; it continues to bring our people together as a community. We have families out on the water who are passing on traditions and working together to earn a living,” continued Chief Toney. “By working together to manage our elver fishery, we are not only enhancing our economic stability but also taking sustainable, crucial steps to help protect the American eel from potential risks.”
The 2025 elver fishery represented the largest Mi’kmaw-led conservation fishing effort ever conducted in Mi’kma’ki. The Mi’kmaw communities involved actively managed designated waterways, ensuring that fishing access was distributed fairly. Technicians monitored the riverbanks each night, documenting landings and safeguarding the integrity of the process. A Fisheries Implementation Team oversaw critical aspects such as harvester registration, verification, and data reporting. This coordinated effort enabled real-time tracking of harvests and the successful implementation of the TRP Plan.
We are pleased to say that the 2025 elver fishery marked a significant milestone in exercising Mi’kmaw Rights, showcasing the power of self-governance and community-led conservation efforts. Through a Mi’kmaw-led reporting system, harvesters collectively reported 1,865 kilograms of landings, generating an estimated $3 million in revenue for their families and the Mi’kmaw Nation. This collaboration among these Mi’kmaw communities has created a strong fisheries management plan that prioritizes sustainability, while upholding our collective and inherent Right to fish. This achievement is a clear demonstration of Mi’kmaw authority and how two regulatory systems – Mi’kmaq and DFO’s – can work, successfully, alongside one another. This is a powerful testament to our resilience and determination, setting a bold precedent for future governance and the recognition of Indigenous Rights in Canada.