Machias Seal Island
This summer, Canadian lobstermen are complaining of being harassed by US Border Patrol agents in speedboats as they fish in waters claimed by both Canada and the US off Machias Seal Island.
Since around 1733, the US and Canada have agreed to disagree over the ownership of Machias Seal Island, a treeless 20-acre island 10 miles off the coast of Maine, and the surrounding 277-square-mile waters known as the “gray zone.” A lighthouse built and maintained by Canadians on the island in 1832 is still operated by the Canadian Coast Guard. Ownership of the island has long been contested, but the United States didn’t formally assert its claim to the island until 1971.
A long-term compromise over fishing rights has been worked out in which each country imposes its fishing rules on its own vessels. Lobstering around Machias Seal Island attracts both US and Canadian lobster boats.
While there has been tension between lobstermen in the past, the sudden arrival of the Border Patrol is something new. The Washington Post quotes Laurence Cook, a lobsterman and representative of the Fishermen’s Association from nearby Grand Manan Island. “I have no idea where they came from. We’ve never seen U.S. Border Patrol in the Gray Zone before.”
The U.S. Border Patrol says it has stopped 21 Canadian vessels this year in the contested waters and has no intention of stopping. Canada’s foreign ministry said in a statement that “Canada’s sovereignty over Machias Seal Island and the surrounding waters is long-standing and has a strong foundation in international law.”
The conflict over the ownership of the island began with language in the Treaty of Paris of 1783 and a Nova Scotia land grant of 1621. The treaty, which ended the Revolutionary War, grants the United States rule over all islands within 20 leagues, or roughly 70 miles, of the American shore, except for islands that had been part of Nova Scotia. As Machias Seal Island is only 10 miles off the Maine coast, the island should be part of the US by the Treaty of Paris. On the other hand, the Canadians claim that a 1621 land-grant deeding the province to Sir William Alexander included the island, so their claim takes precedence.
Whichever nation has the best claim, it is unclear why the US Border Patrol has chosen to intercept the Canadian lobstermen. The region is not a known smuggling path for illegal immigrants or narcotics. The current administration appears intent on inciting border conflicts whenever possible.
Alas we can thank the POTUS for this crud.
As Smokey the bear would say…..
“Only you can put out the forest fire”
Fortunately we get to vote for how we want to behave. Let’s remember to do that.
Hint: “I promise” carries huge psychological weight with us humans, for technical reasons you can look up in the literature. “I promise to vote” would be a good thing to say out loud.
Oh yeah, and this.
The Machias story reminds me of the time I was standing on the deck of a sailboat enjoying an early morning coffee, in a cove at Patos Island (NW Washington), watching a crowd of waterfowl feasting on whatever was on hand (or beak). Serenity was interrupted by the arrival of a Border Patrol boat with its row of huge outboards blasting away on the stern, a crew of theatrically-threatening BP agents encased in various tactical drag apparel on deck.
The Border Patrol boat made a big show of swerving directly into the cluster of birds feeding from the water. For us ordinary mortals, pulling such a stunt in front of other witnesses such as the Coast Guard would have resulted in holy hell but of course these guys are above the law, or outside of it as a practical matter.
They brought their bad attitude and ignorance of the American Way to the side of our boat and proceeded to behave as expected. And of course, if I didn’t want a great BF hassle, I had to pretend to like it. One wry expression and who knows where we’ll end up? “Why did you plough into those birds” could turn into “he was resisting us in the performance of our duties,” with life-altering results. Like I say, these fellas apparently don’t understand the American Way.
But again, we get to vote for or against this kind of display. Lucky us, truly.
Advice for DT
“Treat others as you would wish to be treated”