"For years, Nevin had earned his living, in part, fishing elvers-baby eels-in the rivers, streams, and canals of Nova Scotia. That spring, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) had announced it would not open elver fishing season, citing illegal fishing as a threat to stock health and commenting that the fishery "has also become the focus of harassment, threats and violence," with incidents creating "an immediate threat to the fishery management and public safety." For most people, to be fishing now would mean breaking the law."
"Nevin was about to reverse his truck out of the parking lot when an unmarked vehicle cut him off, beaming its headlights into the dark. Two men got out of the car and shined a light in his face. He recalls them hitting the hood of his truck. Nevin thought he was being robbed. He tried to escape by backing up."
"Nevin then jumped out of the truck to see who the figures were. One of the men pepper-sprayed him. Nevin says his hands were bound with plastic ties; the pepper spray made it hard for him to breathe. The pair then identified themselves as enforcement working on behalf of DFO. Halifax police were called, and they took him to a regional police station."
On the night of April 10, 2024, James Nevin parked near the Shubenacadie Canal to fish elvers and encountered an unmarked vehicle that cut him off and shone headlights into the dark. Two men exited, shined a light in his face, and struck the hood of his truck; Nevin tried to reverse and then exited the vehicle. He reports being pepper-sprayed, bound with plastic ties, and later identified as enforcement working for Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Halifax police transported him to a regional station. He was charged with assault and obstructing enforcement, charges he denies while asserting Mi'kmaw treaty rights to fish for a moderate livelihood. DFO had closed the elver season citing illegal fishing and threats to stock and public safety.
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