Fish meetings try to understand Marshall decision

The Parliamentary standing committee on fisheries is holding hearings in Halifax on Tuesday. Their aim is to try to better understand the recent Marshall decision.

The all-party committee will hear presentations from those with a stake or an interest in how the Marshall decision will change the Atlantic fishery.

As it currently stands, the decision affirms the aboriginal treaty right to make a moderate living from fishing. Initially that sparked confusion that lead to tension, violence and arguments over how broadly those rights should be interpreted.

The Supreme Court has since elaborated on what its decision means, but there are still many unanswered questions.

Today several speakers representing licensed commercial fishermen told the committee that solutions imposed from Ottawa have historicly done more to create problems for the resource than to manage it properly.

Another key issue being raised with this federal committee is the question of how to make room for natives while at the same time reducing the harvesting capacity. One suggestion is for the government to buy back more licences than it intends to give to aboriginals and retire the surplus.