RCMP charge 23 people after violent incident last fall in Nova Scotia lobster dispute

MIDDLE WEST PUBNICO, NS — Nova Scotia RCMP say 23 people face charges in connection with a violent confrontation at a lobster pound that was at the centre of a dispute over a self-regulated Indigenous fishery.

Police say 15 people are charged with break and enter and another eight have been charged with mischief and break and enter _ all are to appear in provincial court in Yarmouth, N.S., March 29.

The Oct. 14 incident at the facility in Middle West Pubnico, N.S., involved about 200 mostly non-Indigenous fishers and their supporters.

The pound had been storing lobster caught outside of the federally regulated fishing season by members of the Sipekne’katik First Nation.

Photos posted on social media showed lobster strewn about the facility, and the RCMP said the large group had prevented employees from leaving the building, which was damaged by the crowd.

Three days later it was burned to the ground.

In mid-December, police confirmed they had arrested 21 people in connection with the unrest, and a suspect was later charged with arson in connection with the torching of a van outside the building.

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