The US & Canada’s Only Border Dispute Over Land

A little island at the center of a blurry border.

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Johnny Harris is a filmmaker and journalist. He currently is based in Washington, DC, reporting on interesting trends and stories domestically and around the globe. Johnny's visual style blends motion graphics with cinematic videography to create content that explains complex issues in relatable ways. He holds a BA in international relations from Brigham Young University and an MA in international peace and conflict resolution from American University.

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[utkb]

One thing that the British gave all of its colonies equally is Border disputes

[zenolachance]

I was a lobsterman on a offshore commercial boat out of Westport Massachusetts in the late 80s and early 90s and we discussed this because it was big news among lobsterman oh, and the conclusion we came to was it should be designated a no fishing Zone by both countries so it would serve as a breeding ground for lobsters in both countries. End of problem.

[bmo]

I came to this channel from a McDonald's conspiracy video, then I can't stop

[TenThumbsProductions]

If education was this dynamic I wouldn't have slept from 7th grade to high school graduation.

[LeahandLevi]

The timing of this is crazy especially considering the conflicts happening on the east coast of Canada over these lobster fisheries with the Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

[dattwin]

We all need to appreciate how easy Google maps makes our curiosity in maps and the world explode.

[Megarobotsquadron]

great vid. one thing I want to point out is that Johnny goes to great lengths to point out how important lobster is to the people of Maine. I can assure you that it is also important to the people of Nova Scotia.

[cleanmachine]

Declare the Island a Nature Reserve, and NOBODY gets to harvest the lobsters.

[nakibsayyed]

I don't know why but I felt kinda relieved when heard him say borders.

[dunnadidit]

"These are the lines we use to draw countries... we call them BORDERS" (single tear)

[Toastmaster_]

As a New Englander who enjoys lobster, I say just give it to Canada. There won't be any more lobster if both countries are scrambling to get more of it, and then it becomes useless to both. Canada clearly cares more about it, and they inherited the lighthouse, so that 's enough of a reason.

[NightOfCrystals]

I’m from Maine and I wasn’t even aware of this dispute. Thanks for the video!

[QuestionEverythingButWHY]

“God created war so that Americans would learn geography.”
― Mark Twain

[mynciee]

I'm from New Brunswick and live about an hour from the Maine - NB border. I never thought I'd see anything from my neck of the woods in a Johnny video! What's good to remember is Canadian lobstermen and Maine lobstermen are very similar people with the same interests in terms of lifestyle and economy. We have more to gain through understanding each other than by fighting over borders. @Johnny Harris if you really want to get into a fishing dispute, look at the banks of newfoundland and how their fishing industry actually had to get shut down by Ottawa because of overfishing near the international water border (where europeans came over and overfished)

[celticviking]

Just an FYI, it’s not the Canadian Military that places the Light Keeper on Machias Seal Island. It’s the Canadian Coast Guard.

[skeleton-]

Canada with a lighthouse they inherited from the old owners and an older treaty that says they own the island

America: haha island mine

[gabrielmachadobsb]

Vox: cancels Borders USA
Johnny: fine, I'll make my own Borders USA with my family and maps

[charlesjmouse]

I see one positive use for this "grey zone":
-USA and Canada agree this is to be a no fishing zone
-The two countries removed a bone of contention and everyone is equally "unhappy" for now, except for the Lobsters!
The area gets an important use - is becomes a fisheries preservation area, and so Lobster might just remain on the menu in to the future...
...because nobody in the fishing industry has a future once all the stocks are fished out.

[dougvictor]

In the '90s, we wanted to see puffin and decided to take the trip to Machias Seal Harbor to do so. Booked 2 seats with Barna Norton and were very excited to be finally going to see puffin. We set sail early in the early morning darkness. The fog was extremely thick. There was zero visibility. The small boat was moving full throttle the entire 10 miles of the trip. Looking back at the experience, the fog seemed like a metaphor for what was to come.
When we made it to the island, Captain Barna told us Canada had a lighthouse on the island and that Canada also claimed the island. He handed us all hats to wear because hundreds of arctic terns, who also nest on the island, were known to dive at, even hit, those who came to the island "to protect their territory". He then took out a good sized American flag, raised it high in the air and marched us onto the island as if we were conscripts in a regiment instead of an unaffiliated band of unsuspecting bird watchers.
Our trip to see puffins then took on a much deeper significance, which to say the least, we found quite unsettling. We had no framework but our imaginations to understand what our stepping foot on this island ten miles out to sea meant or what its ramifications would be. And, at the same time, we had a hoard of screaming artic terns diving at us.
The shelter of a duck blind served us well for the remainder of the time we spent on the island. Although a bit claustrophobic, the shelter got us away from the diving birds and being an unwitting part of some front line international political statement that we did not sign up for nor for which we had any previous knowledge.
We only wanted to see puffin.

[kararmay]

What happens if person was born there is he/she Canadian 🇨🇦 or American 🇺🇸 or both based on birthright citizenship that both countries has