A commitment to protect wild salmon the focus for North Coast MLA's statement Monday

North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice spoke of the importance of salmon to coastal communities, whether it be part of the commercial industry or of historical importance to Indigenous Nations.

Ms. Rice was participating in debate over a Private Members' Motion sponsored by MLA Fin Donnelly, the Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Aquaculture 

With some of her notes culled from a study by the T Buck Suzuki Foundation and Ecotrust Canada, the MLA weaved a narrative that highlighted the many ways that the fishery has become part of the backbone for coastal communities.

Commercial fishermen have unique skills, experience, and valuable access to boats and gear which can be beneficial to their communities. Among their study interviews, a majority of respondents explained how their commercial fishing supports their community in terms of being able to gift and trade fish to friends, family and acquaintances. 

Ms. Rice also made note of the cultural significance of wild salmon to the Indigenous nations of the coast.

Gifting and trading of seafood occurs among commercial fishermen in various ways, from sharing fish there is no market for, to being paid by their First Nations band to catch food, social and ceremonial fish for their whole community. 

One fisherman stated: "Fishing connects families and communities. Your reputation as a fisherman lets other people know where you stand in the community."

The North Coast MLA also outlined the impact of recent troubles for the industry as well as some of the shared initiatives that the provincial government has taken on with the Federal government, industry stakeholders and First Nations.

The B.C. government knows that recent salmon closures have impacted Indigenous, commercial and recreational fishers and the communities that depend on them. 

And we share the disappointment of the successive years of low productivity and poor returns that have led us to this point. For the sake of all of those who depend on wild salmon, we must focus our efforts on restoring salmon habitat, increasing abundance and long-term sustainability of the fisheries.

We want to continue to build on positive news like the recommendations from the federal House of Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, where members provided 20 unanimously supported recommendations to DFO, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, to change its current management of commercial fisheries in B.C. 

These recommendations will ensure that the benefits from B.C. fish support B.C. fishers, First Nations and coastal communities. We are continuing to work with the federal minister, DFO, First Nations and the B.C. seafood industry to support the further discussion of the recommendations. 

The province is committed to working with all partners to help restore wild salmon stocks while developing sustainable wild fisheries and supporting communities around B.C. and on our coast. We all want to support the health of wild fisheries, as well as the employment and economic activity the B.C. seafood sector contributes to our province.

Ms. Rice was participating in the Legislature through her home constituency in Prince Rupert. 

The transcript is available here just before the 11:25 mark, while her commentary on fisheries themes can be reviewed from the video below:

For more items of note on the Legislature see our archive page here.

A wider overview of the BC Fishery can be explored here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.