‘I’m still in shock’: DFO patrol boat rams Mi’kmaw fishing vessel

APTN News: A video obtained by APTN News shows the results of a patrol boat with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), ramming and trying to board a Mi’kmaw fishing vessel.

The encounter happened off the Saulnierville Wharf, an area where non-Indigenous fishers have used violence and intimidation tactics to stop the Mi’kmaw fishing that is a treaty right.

The video shows that the DFO zodiac hits the Mi’kmaw boat and gets partially stuck on the hull.

“What’s going on? You just did that to my boat,” says Shaquest Miller.

Miller told APTN News she was shocked.

“It happened so quickly it was scary,” she said. “Like I honestly thought I was going to sink, I thought I was going to die, like the whole rail came into the boat so like I was afraid I was going to sink.”

Miller is from Acadia First Nation and owns her boat, Ebony Marie.

She and her crew were harvesting lobster with fishing licences authorized by her nation.

“When they came on my vessel they did not have any lights no sirens,” said Miller. “They didn’t come over the radio to say slow down to stop they just rammed me as hard as they could for no reason at all and came on my vessel looking at everything they could trying to find something wrong and they couldn’t because I didn’t do anything wrong.”

In the video, the officers can be seen checking her boat and assuring her the damage would be repaired.

“Whatever needs to be fixed, we will get fixed,” said one of the officers.

Miller said the boat needs to be repaired by Oct. 4 to prepare for her community’s fishing season.

“I’m still in shock,” she said. “I’m actually scared like if I don’t get my boat fixed I don’t know how I’m going to pay my bills I don’t know how I’s supposed to fish my moderate livelihood I don’t know how I’m going to take care of my kids like.”

The RCMP told APTN News, the RCMP concluded its investigation and is taking no action.

“After taking witness statements, the RCMP concluded its investigation. DFO was in execution of its duties. No criminal offense occurred,” said Allison Gerrard, RCMP senior communications advisor.

APTN contacted DFO and the department issued a statement on Friday.

“Under section 49 of the Fisheries Act, fishery officers may inspect any vessel they believe on reasonable grounds to be undertaking activity that is regulated by the Act,” said a statement from DFO’s manager media relations Barre Campbell.

“While fishery officers were attempting to approach the other vessel to board and inspect it, the operator of the vessel made maneuvers to evade the boarding which ultimately resulted in the vessels making contact.

“An investigation into potential charges is underway by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).”

Editor’s Note: This story was updated on Sept. 27 with a comment from DFO.