Aboriginal Aquatic Resource and Oceans Management Program, and Aboriginal Inland Habitat Program

October, 2003

The goals of the Aboriginal Aquatic Resource and Oceans Management (AAROM) Program and the Aboriginal Inland Habitat Program (AIHP) are to help Aboriginal groups to participate effectively in multi-stakeholder and other advisory and decision-making processes used for aquatic resources and oceans management.

The programs were developed to respond to a number of issues which were identified during discussions on the renewal of the Aboriginal Fisheries Strategy program:

• Aboriginal groups are seeking greater participation in decision-making processes used for aquatic resource and oceans management;

• DFO's expanding responsibilities require engaging with Aboriginal groups on a broad range of issues, including oceans management, habitat management and planning, environmental assessment and species at risk; and,

• existing Aboriginal programming is focused on fisheries management, limiting the department's ability to respond effectively to the evolving aspirations of Aboriginal people.

The first steps in establishing the programs will involve discussions with Aboriginal groups to explain the programs, obtain their views on the design and implementation of the programs, and determine interest in participating. These discussions will take place over the coming months, with the implementation of the programs to be in the 2004-05 fiscal year.

For groups that do not meet the criteria needed to qualify for the programs, limited amounts of funding may be provided to assist them in becoming qualified.

Aboriginal Aquatic Resource and Oceans Management Program (AAROM)

AAROM will provide funding to qualifying Aboriginal groups to establish aquatic resource and oceans management bodies. It will enable these bodies to obtain access to skilled personnel and related support that will allow them to participate effectively in decision-making and advisory processes.

It is expected that these bodies will represent member groups/communities in interactions with DFO, at the multi-stakeholder level and, potentially, with other federal government departments. It is anticipated that these bodies will bring together a number of communities with similar interests and goals, that come together voluntarily. This will not replace existing relationships between the department and First Nations.

To qualify for support, Aboriginal communities will be required to work together in relation to a watershed or ecosystem, and meet certain requirements related to management practices. The AAROM program will employ a community-driven approach that recognizes that different groups are at different stages of capacity development and that not all have the same priorities and goals.

For groups that are eligible for the program, funding may also be available to obtain access to commercial fishery opportunities (including vessels and gear) and to build the capacity of groups to take advantage of aquaculture opportunities. In addition, qualifying groups may be eligible for funding for the development of Aboriginal Fishery Officers.

The program will only be available to groups that are located where DFO manages the fishery, and that have not signed a comprehensive land claims agreement that addresses the matters under AAROM.

The main objectives of the AAROM program are:

• to assist Aboriginal groups in acquiring the administrative capacity and scientific/technical expertise to facilitate their participation in aquatic resource and oceans management;

• to encourage the establishment of collaborative management structures that contribute to integrated ecosystem/watershed management and planning processes;

• to enhance existing collaborative management structures, where appropriate;

• to facilitate sound decision-making in advisory and other processes related to a number of areas of DFO responsibility;

• to strengthen relationships through improved information-sharing between Aboriginal communities, DFO and other stakeholders and among Aboriginal communities; and,

• to contribute to the federal government's broader objective of improving the quality of life of Aboriginal people.

Aboriginal Inland Habitat Program (AIHP)

This program shares many of the same objectives as the AAROM program but its focus is fish habitat management in inland provinces.

The program goal is to facilitate the engagement of inland Aboriginal groups in the regulatory and non-regulatory activities of DFO's fish habitat management program, with one anticipated result being better informed decisions. The program is expected to encourage new collaborations among Aboriginal groups, and to build on established working relationships where these already exist.

B-HQ-03-99E(a)