Question Period Note: Arctic Surf Clam

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.

We are pleased that First Nations communities and industry are working in practical ways to support rights reconciliation and their own fishing aspirations.

Supplementary
• No decision has yet been made on the issuance of a fourth offshore Arctic Surf Clam licence.
• The Department is completing a review of possible options to enhance access in this fishery moving forward.

Supplementary
The entire 2021 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 licences 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 the Miawpukek First Nation in Conne River, Newfoundland and Labrador regarding the possible fourth licence.
• 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.

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