The Final Recommendations of the committee created to explore issues of the provinces Wild Salmon stocks have been delivered to the Provincial Government.
On Friday afternoon the Wild Salmon Advisory Council presented its final report, providing 13 recommendations towards the three goals that are listed to find progress when it comes to the protection and stewardship of the marine resource.
As part of their study the Advisory Council collected feedback from a number of community meetings and public engagements across the province, including a session hosted in Prince Rupert at the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre in mid December of last year.
Among the members of the Advisory Council were Joy Thorkelson from Prince Rupert, President of Unifor-UFFAWU and Chief Marilyn Slett of the Heiltsuk First Nation, who served as a co chair with MLA Doug Routley as part of the report process.
As the Advisory Council took to their duties last June, they were tasked with hearing from community stakeholders and residents as to how the government could craft a Made In BC Wild Salmon Strategy.
Over the past seven months, the WSAC has gathered information through a series of commissioned reports, conducted engagement throughout the province, and held significant internal deliberations. We offer the following recommendations in the belief that they fundamentally support the provincial government’s intention on this issue. These recommendations will also be helpful in formulating appropriate and timely actions for both wild salmon and the communities dependent on them for good lives and livelihoods.
The Three goals include:
Increase the abundance of wild salmon
Included in the recommendations, a call for better enforcement of provincial laws and regulations, support to provincial organizations supporting habitat protection and work with all levels of government to ensure monitoring of fisheries is improved.
Protect and enhance the economic, social and cultural benefits that come to B.C. communities from wild salmon and other fisheries, placing emphasis on adjacent communities
Themes explored as part of the recommendations included Consider extending the reach of Indigenous guardianship programs, invest in innovation to support initiatives related to wild salmon recovery and establish as comprehensive provincial vision and strategy for BC Fisheries that acknowledge adjacency principles that reflect the values of British Columbians.
Develop mechanisms, processes, practices and structures to engage citizens and governments in the effective stewardship and management of B.C.’s wild salmon
Some of the recommendations associated with the third goal include: Establish an internal mechanism – an inaugural team or ombudsman to co-ordinate the immediate actions for the Wild Salmon Strategy, and to support the development of a lead agency for B.C. fisheries that clearly delineates and supports wild salmon and B.C. fisheries. Formally recognize the importance of Indigenous organizations and First Nations in the task of rebuilding wild salmon in B.C., along with their constitutionally-protected Right to participate in and benefit from the management of this resource
As part of the overview of the state of the Wild Salmon stocks, the Council called on the government to address the needs and habitat of the wild stocks, with the Council seeking:
“tangible, achievable, near-term actions that can address the immediate needs of wild salmon and their habitat”, as well as establishing “long-term provincial engagement on this issue, recognizing that impact will require ongoing and significant effort.”
The thirteen recommendations for the three goals of the finished document will provide the provincial government with guidance as to how they wish to follow up on the state of the province's salmon stocks with the Federal Government which through the Department of Fisheries makes many of the decisions that impact on coastal communities.
When it comes to the concluding themes on their nine month journey, the Council calls for more engagement by the province in the process of protection of the province's resource.
Creating a made-in-B.C. Wild Salmon Strategy at this juncture, when the threats to our wild salmon populations are so complex, requires an urgent and strategic intervention. The Wild Salmon Advisory Council confirmed through its work, including the engagement process, that there ARE solutions and there IS public interest/endorsement for this initiative.
We heard at multiple times, and in many ways, that increasing wild salmon abundance is and should be a provincial government goal. We also heard repeatedly that the citizens of B.C., and particularly adjacent communities, must benefit directly from the public investment that will be required.
The WSAC’s recommendations recognize this duality, encourage the Province to take a leadership role on this issue, and offer guidance for both immediate and mid-term actions.
A made-in-B.C. Wild Salmon Strategy is long overdue.
You can review the full report here.
The Provincial government will now take the study under review, as it decides how best to approach it's plans for a Made in BC strategy, as well as how they can ensure that the findings and the province's desires for the future can be heard by the Federal Minister of Fisheries.
For more notes of interest on the fishing industry on the North Coast see our archive page here.
Cross posted from the North Coast Review.
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