Home  Infocentre  Publications  Annual Report 2001-2002  Pacific Region

Previous Page

Table of Contents

Next Page

4.0 Community Outreach and Stewardship

4.1 Public Information and Education

Habitat Enforcement Bulletin

DFO staff produced two more issues of its Habitat Enforcement Bulletin in fiscal year 2001‑2002. The bulletin serves to inform both the public and staff of habitat enforcement activity, case law developments, and the use of enforcement powers. The bulletin continued to receive positive feedback and requests for subscriptions from the general public, private corporations, and federal and provincial government staff. The bulletin has now been expanded as a national DFO publication. Bulletins are available electronically at: <http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/canwaters-eauxcan/infocentre/publications/index_e.asp>.

Habitat Enforcement Internet Site

DFO maintained and improved its public habitat enforcement web site, launched in 1999, designed to inform the general public, interest groups, and federal and provincial staff. The site includes information on how to comply with the Fisheries Act habitat sections; news and statistics on habitat charges and convictions; explanations of the process of environmental law enforcement; and descriptions of court orders to restore damaged fish habitat.

Horsefly River Salmon Festival

The first ever Horsefly River Salmon Festival was held in September 2001. Hosted by the community of Horsefly, the event was supported by many businesses and agencies, including DFO staff. Dozens of volunteers also assisted at interpretive sites visited by several thousand school children over the course of the festival. The Horsefly River has a very large sockeye return on its dominant year, and DFO was able to work with the community to raise the profile of this important salmon stream. It is hoped that this will be the first of many similar events.

Offshore Oil and Gas Workshop

DFO organized and hosted an offshore oil and gas workshop bringing together federal agencies to discuss perspectives on offshore oil and gas development on the West Coast. The workshop included presentations from DFO (Habitat Management, Oceans, Science, and Coast Guard), the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, the National Energy Board, and Natural Resources Canada.

Realtor Information Package

DFO staff in Salmon Arm developed an information package for local realtors regarding the legislative responsibilities of DFO, the values and sensitivities of streams and lakes as fish habitat, and the referral process whereby habitat staff review private land development proposals. Packages were distributed to local realtors during meetings in fiscal year 2001‑2002. This program is proposed for extension to the larger Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board area in fiscal year 2002‑2003.

	top of page

Salmon River Screening Information Sessions

For the benefit of Thompson River Coho and Chinook stocks, DFO conducted a Salmon River Screening Project. This project provided information to landowners regarding their responsibilities under the Fisheries Act and facilitated compliance. The project included public information sessions with media coverage, samples of screened water intakes for public viewing, and intake inspections by DFO staff. The inspections were followed by letters to intake owners directing them to repair or replace screened intakes where required.

Smithers Salmon Stream Signs

Around the Smithers area, DFO staff were instrumental in obtaining and installing “Salmon Stream” signs at road crossings throughout the area. In addition, in consultation with the BC Ministry of Transportation, DFO developed a set of Best Management Practices for highway maintenance contractors to avoid or minimize impacts on fish habitat.

Zebra Mussels Awareness

Pacific Region continued to develop a Zebra Mussel awareness information package for staff to recognize this potentially damaging invasive species, and a rapid response plan. The DFO Sport Fishing Guide also carries information on Green Crab and Zebra Mussel with reporting procedure outlined for sport fishermen.

4.2 Cooperative Action

Avola Land Acquisition

Agreements were made to transfer Land Titles for environmentally sensitive land with high fish habitat values in the North Thompson watershed to DFO for salmon conservation purposes. This is a unique partnership with Weyerhaeuser Canada, and involves local residents of Avola. The land title transfer protects restored
off-channel spawning habitat and rearing habitat created by DFO for threatened Thompson Coho salmon stocks.

Habitat Conservation and Stewardship Program

In June 1998, the Minister of DFO announced a five-year Resource Rebuilding Strategy ($100 million) as part of a national Canada Fisheries Adjustment and Restructuring Program ($400 million). The Pacific Region Habitat Conservation and Stewardship Program (HCSP) is a major component of Resource Rebuilding with funding at $35 million. HCSP represents a new approach for proactive habitat protection that focuses on building long-term, local community capacity by funding positions to work with local communities to protect fish and fish habitat. The vision of the HCSP is “to establish partnerships to enhance habitat protection and expanded community capacity to steward fish habitat resources”.

In the Pacific Region, “stewards” were hired by Community Partners using HCSP funds and deployed in many communities across BC and the Yukon. Community Partners are First Nations, members of the forestry and agricultural sectors, local government, environmental organizations, local government, provincial agencies, and fisheries commissions. There have been over 100 stewards hired under HCSP. Steward positions include: Habitat Auxiliaries, Stewardship Coordinators, Habitat Stewards and Habitat Fishery Officers. The ultimate goal of the stewards is to proactively protect fish habitat by changing the way that people interact with the land and water.

There are many examples of stewards who have built the capacity of community groups to effectively protect habitat. These include participation in watershed planning process, landowner contact programs, educating the public about fish and fish habitat requirements, developing inventory and mapping products to aid decision makers, conducting assessments of rehabilitation projects, and teaching community groups about how to be effective fish habitat advocates.

As we begin the final year of the HCSP, most of the stewards have made progress towards the HCSP vision. In anticipation of program reductions, elements of the HCSP are being re-profiled to provide community stewardship support with reduced funding. In fiscal year 2001‑2002, funding from BC agencies, such as the Fisheries Renewal BC Program, was also being phased out.

	top of page

Okanagan Basin Technical Working Group

The Okanagan Basin Technical Working Group comprises federal, provincial, state and First Nation agencies from Canada and the United States committed to conserving and protecting indigenous fish stocks within this international (transboundary) watershed. Through an approach based on the ecosystem and science, the group manages stocks, and conserves and restores habitat. Stocks include the Okanagan Sockeye salmon, one of the last remaining intact Columbia River populations of this species. The working group initiated research on habitat complexity and streamflow management analysis.

White Sturgeon Recovery Efforts

The White sturgeon populations in the Columbia and Nechako Rivers in BC are considered endangered. These populations appear to be suffering from recruitment failure, that is, there are no juvenile individuals within these populations. This is likely a result of flow and habitat alterations associated with hydroelectric and flood control facilities on these rivers. Other potential impacts include channel modifications and industrial pollution. Fishing for sturgeon was recently prohibited in the Columbia and Nechako river systems.

Separate recovery initiatives for upper Columbia and Nechako White sturgeon have been undertaken by a variety of interested parties in each watershed. Within these initiatives, recovery strategies are being developed through
scientifically-based processes integrated with focused consultation. The scientific basis for recovery is being developed by a Recovery Team of qualified technical representatives from fisheries agencies, First Nations, and stakeholders. The consultation process occurs through an Action Planning Group of non-technical representatives from First Nations, stakeholders, and the public. DFO is participating in the Recovery Team and Action Planning Group for both sturgeon populations.

In the upper Columbia recovery initiative, DFO is a partner with the Province of BC, United States federal and state agencies, First Nations, and BC Hydro. To date, the upper Columbia recovery initiative has established a conservation fish culture facility, conducted a variety of research programs, and engaged in public outreach. An upper Columbia white sturgeon recovery plan is to be completed in 2002.

The Nechako initiative has been undertaken by DFO, the Province of BC, First Nations, and Alcan. The Nechako recovery initiative is developing a conservation fish culture program, conducting research and consultation, and preparing a recovery plan to be completed in 2002.

4.3 Public Consultations

N’laka’pamux First Nation Comprehensive Fisheries Agreement

In fiscal year 2001‑2002, DFO staff began meetings with the N’laka’pamux First Nation to develop a comprehensive fisheries agreement. This agreement will include not only fisheries management and enforcement issues but also aspects of fish habitat, including stewardship, habitat restoration and regulatory issues within the N’laka’pamux traditional territory.

Stl’atl’imx First Nation/DFO/Hydro Technical Working Group

In early 2001, DFO staff began a series of meetings with the Stl’atl’imx First Nation and BC Hydro to develop communication links between the three parties. A formal Technical Working Group was developed to coordinate future activity around fisheries planning and projects. This process has facilitated further discussions around other elements of DFO business, including enforcement, habitat protection, habitat restoration, enhancement and stewardship, with the objective of working towards a possible comprehensive agreement.

Previous Page	Table of Contents	Next Page