by Marc Laframboise, MMNN Contributor

Every year the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat (APCFNC) honours excellence in the First Nations commercial fishery across the Atlantic region. This years’ awards banquet was held January 28, 2015 at the Atlantica Hotel in Halifax. The APCFNC First Nations Fisheries Awards program celebrates success stories by recognizing the most deserving fishermen and industry workers. This is the story of the recipient of this years’ 2014 Best Fishery Coordinator, Preston Bernard, of the Wagmatcook First Nation.

Mr.Bernard has been the Fisheries Manager for the Wagmatcook commercial fishery enterprise (CFE) for over ten years. He has held many positions including deck hand and captain. During that time, he restructured the business operation to make it far more profitable while greatly increasing employment for community members. He is seen as a major asset to the community’s economy and well-being. He is known for adhering to the strictest of training rules and principles of the sea.

The Wagmatcook First Nation’s CFE employs close to 40 commercial fishers and has a fleet of seven fishing vessels – six 38 to 40 foot Cape island style lobster vessels and one fifty foot mobile groundfish vessel. Each is piloted by a highly skilled captain who manages a well-trained crew of mates, deck bosses and deck hands. Under Preston Bernard’s guidance, each employee has a pre-determined role and responsibility which aims to ensure a high safety a ...