Toronto restaurants are boycotting lobster as an act of solidarity with Nova Scotia's Mi'kmaq fishers who have been entangled in an ongoing dispute over off-season fishing for centuries.
Under the Peace and Friendships Treaty, signed in 1726 and later reenacted in 1760 and 1761, Mi'kmaq have protected rights to harvest fish for food, social and ceremonial purposes and a right to fish for a moderate livelihood. And yet, nearly 300 years later, tensions remain between the Indigenous people of Nova Scotia and the local non-Indigenous fishing communities.
Conflicts arose again in mid-September when the Sipekne’katik First Nation set up a moderate livelihood lobster fishery along the southwestern coast of Nova Scotia. The local commercial fishing sector worried this new fishery was a threat to maintaining healthy lobster stocks, when in reality, Mi'kmaq fishers set out an estimated 250 traps at the time -- equivalent to one commercial boat.
Tensions reached boiling point when Indigenous-owned lobster traps set off-season were being sabotaged and vandalized by non-Indigenous fishers.
Standing in solidarity with Mi'kmaq fishers, the chefs of leading Toronto seafood restaurants, COAST, Oyster Boy and The Chase are boycotting Nova Scotian lobsters or removing lobster from their menu entirely.
Matt Dean Pettit, the chef behind COAST, a delivery-only ghost kitchen concept that opened last month, announced on Instagram that he will be removing lobster from the menu in support of Mi'kmaq fisheries. Although Pettit only sources sustainably farmed and ethically raised seafood, including lobster from Northern New Brunswick, he believes actionable changes such as this are necessary in supporting Indigenous rights to fish.
"I am deeply upset and outraged by the violent dispute in Nova Scotia between commercial and Mi’kmaq fishers. I stand in strong support of the Mi’kmaq rights to fish and condemn the violence and racism taking place," says Pettit in his Instagram statement.
Pettit also held a fundraiser giving away free Ocean Wise shrimp rolls and matched donations for the Mi'kmaq fishing community.
Last month, Queen Street staple Oyster Boy also took to Instagram to share their outrage regarding violence towards Mi'kmaq fisheries. They too will be boycotting the sale of lobster until an agreement is reached between both parties is reached.
"In solidarity with Mi'kmaq fisheries and treaty rights, Oyster Boy will be boycotting all lobster sales for the foreseeable future. We are working towards sourcing our lobster directly from First Nations fisheries. We do not condone violence of any kind and will always strive for our practices to reflect ethics and sustainability. We stand with Mi'kmaq fisheries," the post reads.
The Chase, Toronto's seafood-focused fine dining restaurant, also issued a statement about the matter.
“We will be removing Nova Scotia lobster off our menu at the Chase immediately to stand in solidarity with Mi’kmaq fishers,” said president and CEO of Chase Hospitality Group, Steven Salm.
The restaurant group pledges to support Mi'kmaq fisheries and other Indigenous communities by suspending all lobster sales and ensuring that their products are sustainably and ethically sourced.
“It is important for us to seize any opportunity to support our Indigenous communities and this is the least we could do. We are committed to transparency in our supply chain and ensuring ethical practices are followed throughout," he continues.
