The summary as included in the judgement is as follows: Beginning in 1994 and in each ensuing year the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans entered into Agreements with the Waycobah First Nation concerning, among other things, a food, social and ceremonial fishing allocation to members of that aboriginal community. These Agreements emanated from an Aboriginal Fishing Strategy created in …
Full Summary
These summaries of recent Fisheries law cases are prepared by Brad Caldwell of Caldwell & Co., 404-815 Hornby Street, Vancouver, B.C., V6Z 2E6. Telephone (604) 689-8894, E-mail: brad@marine-law.ca CV: Link.
Readers are urged to consult CanLii for updates to the cases digested on this site.
R v. Armstrong, 2012 BCCA 242
R v. Lee, 2011 SKPC 2
R v. Sutherland, 2004 MBQB 104
This case involved an aboriginal fisherman who delivered five pickerel caught without a commercial fishing licence to a fish plant to the account of a different fisherman holding a commercial licence. At trial, the the court gave the accused the benefit of the doubt with respect to whether or not he was "selling" the fish because he had directed the …
Full SummaryR v. Joe, 2000 BCSC 1100
This case involved an aboriginal fisherman charged with fishing during a closed time. At issue during the trial was the requirement for notice of a regulation to all persons likely to be affected by it as required by section 11(2)(b) of the Statutory Instruments Act. At trial, the trial judge found that the communal licence issued by the fisherman’s Band …
Full SummaryR v. George, 2002 BCPC 207
This case involved a charge against a First Nations defendant of offering to sell fish that was not caught under the authority of a fishing licence. At the commencement of the trial, the defence made an application for a judicial stay on the grounds that, “[t]hese delays have caused our clients, one of whom is an elder, considerable expense both …
Full SummaryR v. Reid, [2004] B.C.J. No. 954
R v. Boudreau, 2009 NSPC 7
This case involved charges of illegal fishing for snow crab pursuant to Aboriginal Communal Fishing Regulations. When defence council discovered that the Band Council of the First Nation that that issued the Communal Fishing licences had discussed the case with several Government officials, including enforcement officers, he sought production of any reports and/or e-mails resulting from that meeting. After reviewing …
Full Summary