N.B. Fishermen Head to Murky Waters in International Boundary Dispute

By CHRIS MORRIS

GRAND MANAN, N.B. (CP) – New Brunswick lobster fishermen are setting their traps this weekend in waters muddied by an international tug of war over a small, rocky island in the middle of the Bay of Fundy.

Both Canada and the United States claim Machias Seal Island and the lobster-rich waters that surround it – a boundary dispute that has lasted for centuries with no end in sight.

Last week, the Canadian Coast Guard and officials from the federal Fisheries Department attempted to take a boatload of news reporters to the island and the so-called grey zone where Canadian and U.S. fishermen somewhat testily share fishing grounds during the summer.

Heavy seas, dense fog and queasy stomachs ended the trip early, but the fisheries officials were able to deliver their message about the need for a settlement to the dispute.

“The area we are talking about, we consider Canadian waters and we manage it under our Canadian fisheries rules and regulations,” says Faith Scattolon, regional director general for Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

“However, the Americans dispute our sovereignty there and fish the area as well. It means we have two countries managing two fisheries in the area. We would like to have an opportunity to develop some complementary management measures with our counterparts in the United States.”

U.S. fisheries officials could not be reached for comment but a representative of Maine lobster fishermen says he also would like to see the dispute settled.

David Cousens of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association says he doubts the two governments will ever resolve the issue.

Cousens, who lives in South Thomaston, ME., says it should be left to the fishermen themselves to find a solution.

“When you get a bunch of lobstermen in the same room, we can usually solve our problems,” he says.

“You know, half a gallon of rum, three hours and usually we come out with a workable solution. But when governments get involved, someone always wants to one-up someone else to get a feather in their cap. When that type of mentality is present, it’s hard to get anything done.”

Machias Seal Island is a speck of rock in the Bay of Fundy between the Maine and New Brunswick coasts.

It is home to scores of puffins, migratory birds and one of the last manned lighthouses in Canada.

Lighthouse keepers are sent to the island on 30-day rotations, not because the light needs to be manned but because Ottawa believes a continuous presence on the island helps secure Canadian sovereignty.

Although the Canadian lighthouse has been on the island since 1832, it has failed to impress the Americans, who insist the island is U.S. property.

However, the United States has never maintained a continuous presence of its own on the island.

“It would be a lot better if the two countries got together and just made a decision,” says Cousens.

“They could either split the grey zone down the middle or just have one season and one type of gear fishing there.”

Fishermen from Grand Manan, N.B., who are heading out to the grey zone to begin fishing on Sunday, say the area is difficult to fish because of the congestion and different types of gear.

There are often entanglements and, in the past, Canadians have accused American fishermen of setting traps outside the grey zone in clearly Canadian waters.

Tempers are getting short and fisheries officials are openly fretting about potential conflict in the area.

“I’d like to see the grey zone tied to the Canadian season,” says Laurence Cook of the Grand Manan Lobster Fishermen’s Association.

“Conservation has to be the major consideration.”

It’s expected that this year 18 to 20 Grand Manan fishermen will fish the grey zone beginning on Sunday.

Scattolon says that anywhere from 30 to 40 U.S. fishermen also will be in the area.

“People are snarling gear when they bring it up,” she said.

“What we would like to see is a conservation-oriented, orderly and safe fishery for both countries.”

Scattolon says the United States has shown little interest in resolving the dispute.

Considering the length of Canada’s international borders, there are very few boundary disputes like Machias Seal Island.

Other disagreements with the United States over where to draw the line include the Northwest Passage, the Dixon Entrance between B.C. and Alaska, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.