No issues on Day 1 of injunction: RCMP

RCMP say there were no incidents or arrests in the first 24 hours after a Nova Scotia Supreme Court Justice granted an interim injunction against any kind of harassment toward the Sipekne'katik Band members involved in the moderate livelihood lobster fishery in southwestern Nova Scotia.

The band council applied for the injunction before Justice James Chipman in Halifax Wednesday morning. The order prohibits anyone from blockading or restricting band members trying to access or leave the wharves in Saulnierville and Weymouth, and lobster pound building in New Edinburgh. It also prohibits anyone from threatening, harassing, intimidating or coercing band members, the public and anyone doing business with the band or its members at those locations. Obstructing traffic in those areas is also prohibited.

It also prohibits interference, either directly or through threats, harassment and intimidation, with the band members' fishing activity and their fishing gear in the ocean or on land.

Likewise, it prohibits interfering with the business being conducted by contract between the band and any commercial enterprise, either physically at any location business is conducted, or through threats and intimidation.

It also bans breaches of the peace at the wharves or pound, and trespassing at the pound.

The injunction is interim until formal proceedings are filed by the band council in the court and a formal hearing is held.

Since the band started its fishery in September, there have been incidents of assault, property damage, theft, arson, and lobster trap lines being cut as some commercial fishermen protested the fishery and the way it was being run.

A lobster pound in Middle West Pubnico burned in a fire that police have called suspicious. Police have charged one person with assault and another with setting fire to a van, and say more charges are pending.