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Canada Refuses Eel Protection, Angering First Nations
6 Dec
Summary
- Canada will not list the American eel under the Species at Risk Act.
- First Nations express concern over the decision, citing cultural loss.
- The government will manage eels under the Fisheries Act instead.
Canada announced Tuesday it would not list the American eel under the Species at Risk Act (SARA), a decision that has drawn criticism from First Nations communities with significant cultural and spiritual connections to the species. Charles Doucette of Potlotek First Nation expressed disappointment, noting the drastic decline in eel populations, which were once central to his community's traditions, medicine, and feasts. He highlighted the stark contrast between past abundance and the current scarcity, questioning the government's inaction.
The federal government opted to manage eel populations under the Fisheries Act, a move favored by commercial elver fishers but viewed with skepticism by environmentalists and Indigenous knowledge keepers. Scientific assessments have indicated declining eel populations in several Atlantic provinces, with Nova Scotia's populations considered vulnerable and Prince Edward Island's imperiled. Similar declines are noted in regions like the Ottawa River, where historical abundance has plummeted due to factors like damming and habitat loss.
Conservationists and Indigenous representatives point to economic pressures from the lucrative elver fishery as a potential reason for the non-listing. While a SARA listing would provide automatic legal protections, it would also halt all forms of harvest. Alternative proposals, such as listing under CITES Appendix II for international trade regulation, were also considered but rejected by Canada. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) cited scientific data, socio-economic factors, and consultations to justify its decision, asserting that management under the Fisheries Act is the most effective approach for conservation and economic benefit.
