Atlantic Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative

The Atlantic Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative (AICFI) was announced in the 2007 federal budget to build on the progress made through the Marshall Response Initiative. The two-year, $20 million initiative responds to the interests of First Nations to play a greater role in the Atlantic commercial fishery, while ensuring that the resource is properly managed and protected.

The program is focused on increasing the capacity of First Nations commercial fishing enterprises and supporting their participation in the co-management of the integrated commercial fisheries along with other commercial harvesters.

The program has four components:

1. Enterprise Governance Enhancement – to support development of effective and efficient organizational structures.
2. Management Practice Enhancement – to strengthen general business practices, harvest training and information management.
3. Co-management Capacity Building – to foster First Nations involvement in fisheries co-management.
4. Commercial Fisheries Diversification – to support business diversification through upgrades and improvements to vessels, gear, and on-shore facilities.

AICFI’s achievements to date include:

• creation of a Business Development team that has assisted 24 First Nations commercial fishing enterprises with the business development plans – many of which are already in the implementation stage.
   
• implementation by 26 First Nations commercial fishing enterprises of an electronic Fisheries Management System to track activities, expenses and revenues
   
• diversification of existing commercial fishing enterprise through minor upgrades to fisheries infrastructure (vessel upgrade, harvesting and onshore equipment improvements) and other needs. Approximately $4 million is earmarked for investment in 2009-10 in infrastructure improvements for eight to 10 First Nations communities that meet the prerequisite requirements to make an application under this component of AICFI.

Looking forward:

The goal of AICFI is to see the majority of First Nations commercial fishery enterprises reach a self-sustaining level of profitability and maturity by 2012.