July 03, 2008- This is the second year that the Gespe'gewaq Mi'gmaq Resource Council (GMRC) has been involved with Homarus Inc., a non-profit company created by the Maritime Fishermen’s Union (MFU), in its lobster-seeding project in the Upper Bay of Chaleur. Eel River Bar, a representative community of the GMRC, has been actively involved in this initiative over a number of years.

The First Nations participating in the project are Eel River Bar, Listuguj, and Pabineau. The communities are a part of the Gespe’gewaq July 03, 2008- Mi’gmaq Resource Council (GMRC), who’s main purpose is to build awareness of environmental issues in the region and to get involved in important issues pertaining to the environment and responsible use of natural resources. The rangers from Eel River Bar and Listuguj are also actively participating in the project.

Lobster larvae where raised in an experimental hatchery at Homarus Inc., and today approximately 40,000 larvae where seeded. According to Mark J. Sark, CEO of the Gespe'gewaq Mi'gmaq Resource Council, “While this may sound like a sizeable contribution by way of numbers, we will need to increase these amounts if we are going to have a significant impact in helping rebuild the stocks. “While the release of a few thousand-lobster larvae will not radically improve matters, I think it’s important that we look at things from a proper context.”

Aside from bringing our communities together, the seeding in the Upper Bay of Chaleur should also serve as a building block in creating awareness on the importance of resource enhancement and conservation management. Mr. Sark adds, “If we are ever going to make a change in how we view resource management we will need to step away from our working in isolation. By working collectively, we can make a difference.”

“We need to continually remind ourselves that all things are connected. Each species is dependant on the other for survival. Therefore, it’s in all our best interests that we do our best to maintain strong biodiversity in our ecosystems.”

The Gespe'gewaq Mi'gmaq Resource Council is not just limited to marine and aquatic resource management. Some of its current projects include work in areas such as shoreline erosion and restoration, research on traditional Mi’gmaq foods such as the Atlantic salmon, the American Eel, and species at risk.