Question Period Note: Arctic Surf Clam

• Clearwater Seafoods and First Nations communities in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador have entered into an agreement to harvest Arctic surf clam.
• DFO is committed to pursuing a path that supports reconciliation, which remains an important consideration for the future of this fishery.
• We are pleased that First Nations Communities and Industry are working in practical ways to support rights reconciliation and their own fishing aspirations.

If pressed on whether the Department will make a decision on the issuance of the fourth Surf clam licence to the this year…

• The Department is completing a review of possible options to enhance access in this fishery moving forward, including the pending sale of Clearwater Seafoods Incorporated to a coalition of Mi’kmaq First Nations and Premium Brands Holdings Corporation.

If pressed on whether the full 2021 quota will be released to Clearwater if the fourth licence is not issued…

• In order to facilitate the fishery starting January 1, 2021, 75 per cent of the overall quota has been provided to Clearwater Seafoods Incorporated. The decision on allocating the remaining 25 per cent will be made in the coming months.

• The entire 2020 total allowable catch (TAC) for Arctic Surf Clam was made available to Clearwater Seafoods, the current licence holder in this fishery.
• This allowed for the economic benefits to remain in coastal communities while Fisheries and Oceans Canada continues to
consider broadening access to this fishery.

• Three offshore artic surf Clam licence are currently held directly or indirectly by one company, Clearwater Seafoods Incorporated. The fishery is conducted on a year round basis from January 1 to December 31.
• In March 2019, Clearwater Seafoods announced that it had entered into an agreement with Nova Scotia’s 13 Mi’kmaq communities (as represented by the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq Chiefs) and Miawpukek First nation in Conne River, Newfoundland and Labrador.
• The agreement provides for revenue sharing, employment and training and development for the Indigenous participants. The fourth licence would be issued to a corporation, the shareholders of which would be the 14 Indigenous communities. The agreement provides that the Indigenous communities would retain control of the rights and privileges conferred under the licence, and contemplates the use of Clearwater’s sale and distribution system for the fish caught under the fourth licence.

None