[1] Non-Indigenous fishers negatively reacted to off-season fishing activities of a self-regulated Indigenous lobster fishery, mainly citing concerns of potential overfishing.
On September 17, 2020, on the 21st anniversary of the ruling, the Sipekne'katik First Nation launched their own self-regulated fishery, beginning to fish before the start of the official season on November 30, causing concern from non-Indigenous fishers that overfishing could occur.
[1] On November 9, 2020, the Mi'kmaq First Nations, along with other indigenous bands and Premium Brands Holdings Corporation announced that they had acquired Clearwater Seafoods in a $1 billion deal, although they intended to continue with the self-regulated fisheries.
[7] Robert Steneck, a professor of oceanography at University of Maine commented that the potential for overfishing by the Indigenous fishers in the off-season, based on the number of traps they have employed, would be minimal.
[20] In November 2020, crown prosecutors sought fines against Guang Da International, who in August were found guilty of distributing lobster under "communal food, social and ceremonial" licences attributed to the Sipekne'katik First Nation.