Halifax-area restaurants haul lobster off the menu in support of Mi'kmaq

Some Halifax-area restaurants have taken lobster off their menus to show support forthe Mi'kmaq and their treaty right to fish.

"I really feel like this is a pivotal moment for Nova Scotia to face its racism and address it head on," Kourosh Rad, the owner of Garden Food Bar andLounge in Halifax, told CBC's Maritime Noon on Monday.

"And whatever role I can play in that conversation, I'm happy to be there in solidarity."

Simmering tensions have grown violentin the province's southwest, sparkedby the launch of a Mi'kmaw fishery outside the federally mandated commercial season 21 years after the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in the case of Donald Marshall Jr.

The landmark decision affirmed the Mi'kmaw right to earn a moderate livelihoodfrom fishing.

Many commercial lobster fishermen say they consider the new Sipekne'katik fishery in St. Marys Bay illegal and worry that catching lobster outside the mandated season, particularly during the summer spawning period, will negatively impact stocks.

Sipekne'katik officials have said the amount of lobster that will be harvested and sold is tiny compared with what's caught during the commercial season, which begins in late November and runs until the end of May.

Several hundred commercial fishermen and their supporters raidedtwofacilities where Mi'kmaw fishers store their catchlast week.One of those facilities waslater burned to the groundin what police said was a suspicious fire. Amanwhom police described as a person of interest was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries believed to be related to the blaze.

Rad said he and his staff decided to take lobster off the menu after they heard about the fire at the storage facility.

"It just seems like the violence is getting out of control and we had to do something," he said.

Rad removed three items from his menu, including thelobster mac and cheese, lobster sliders and a lobster sandwich.

The items are still listedbut with a note: "Currently not offering lobster due to violation of Mi'kmaq's treaty rights."

Rad said he had never consideredwhere the restaurant's supplier acquired its lobster, but he's now looking for a Mi'kmaw fisher who can provide fresh lobster.

RCR's Hospitality Group, which owns six restaurants in Halifax includingEast of Grafton Tavern,CutSteakhouse,Shuck Seafood andRaw Bar,Waterfront Warehouse,The Arms Public House andAgricola Street Brasserie, also removed lobster from its menus Monday.

N.S. restaurants take lobster off the menu in support of Mi'kmaq

4 years ago

Duration 2:27

Some of the biggest restaurant chains in the Halifax area have pulled lobster from their menus in solidarity with the province's Indigenous fishermen and they say they'll keep it that way until the violence ends. The CBC's Preston Mulligan reports.

Dear Friend, arestaurant and barin Dartmouth, N.S., took lobster off its menu on Sept. 22 only five days after the fishery's launch to show solidarity with the Mi'kmaq.

Owner Matt Boyle said the restaurant has received "a significant amount of hate"since then.

But Boylesaidsometimes the principle is more important than the profit.

"I'm a bit disheartened and appalledembarrassed a little bit, as well," Boyle said."I just think that there's other ways to peacefully resolve these issues than violence or vandalism and alleged racism."

The restaurants plan to keep lobster off the menu untilthe dispute is resolved.