Man charged with arson after vehicle fire outside lobster pound in New Edinburgh, N.S.

A Yarmouth County man has been charged with arson aftera vehicle was torchedoutside a lobster facility in New Edinburgh, N.S.

Meteghan RCMPwere called to a disturbance outside thelobster pound Tuesday evening, just one of two locations whereseveral hundred commercial fishermen and their supporters raidedfacilities where Mi'kmaw fishermen were storing their catches.

Commercial fishermen began gathering Tuesday afternoon in Digby County and made their way to a lobster pound in New Edinburgh, where, by nightfall, lobsters were stolen, the facility was damaged anda van was set ablaze.

The raids comeafter weeks of unrest in the province's southwest, sparked by the launch of a "moderate livelihood" lobster fishery by the Sipekne'katik band outside the federally mandated commercial season.

Michael Burton Nickerson, 31, has been charged with arson causing damage to property.

Nickerson was arrested Saturday afternoon, but has been released from custody on conditions.

He is scheduled to appear in Digby provincial court on Dec. 21.

WATCH | Fishing dispute heats up in Nova Scotia:

Dispute between commercial fishermen and Mi'kmaw fishers heats up in N.S.

4 years ago

Duration 3:09

For a second day, commercial fishermen have surrounded a lobster pound near Digby that holds lobster harvested by members of the Sipekne'katik band, as tensions continue to rise between the groups. The CBC's Paul Withers reports.

A Digby County man was also chargedin the midst of the ongoing dispute over the lobster fishery. Chris Gerald Melanson, 46, has beencharged with assault after allegedly grabbing and shoving Sipekne'katik First Nation Chief Mike Sack on Wednesday during an altercation at the lobster pound in New Edinburgh.

RCMP said it has increased its presence in theMeteghan area, including an emergency response team, a critical incident command team and officers from Prince Edward Island who are trained in de-escalation and crowd control.

The investigation is continuing.

Anyone with information is asked tocontact Meteghan RCMP at 902-645-2326. Anyone who wants to remain anonymous can call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers toll free at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tipor use the P3 Tips App.