Fraser River Aboriginal Fisheries Secretariat
2010 Visions Conference
2010 Visions Conference
The 2010 Visions Conference occurred over a two-day period on October 13th and 14th at Seabird Island, Agassiz, British Columbia. The workshop’s theme was Fisheries Data: Bridging Gaps and Building Trust, a purpose that intended to clarify the linkages between the collection of fisheries data and the formulation of fisheries policy. Following this general theme and objective, selected representatives of differing perspectives made presentations on a variety of projects, programs and processes. To provide an overview of the challenges and opportunities associated with fisheries data it is important to highlight a number of the presentations that were given during the workshop.
Undoubtedly, consensus on an unambiguous vision of fisheries management does not exist among First Nations and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, but several patterns continually appear. For example, both First Nations and Fisheries and Oceans Canada agree that reliable and consistent data is essential to fisheries management, but this must be a process founded on a collaborative partnership. To borrow a line from one presentation, “effective science requires effective relationships.” Such a partnership also requires a commitment to capacity building. As many of the presentations indicated, the collection of adequate fisheries data demands rigour, a labour intensive and technically orientated activity. However, a cyclical process of inadequate reporting and mistrust prevails when the collaborative process deteriorates. There is no simple answer, but future discussions might consider some of the incentives and disincentives for First Nations to rigourously monitor, record and report fisheries data, for sometimes the data collected is the data used to limit access. Regardless of the apparent paradoxes, an equitable partnership that concentrates on technical and educational capacity building might support the development of an increasingly comprehensive assessment tool that ensures adequate management in the context of budgets constraints and convoluted operational climates.
Workshop Presentations
Day One
Integrated Salmon Dialogue Presentation
Monitoring and Compliance Panel Progress Report by Glenn Sigurdson and Wayne Saito
Emerging Regional Strategies for Monitoring Fisheries by Colin Masson
Chinook & Coho Stock Assessment: Role of Biological Sampling for Management Decisions
Coded Wire Tag Presentation by Kathy Fraser, Michael Staley and Doug Herriott
Linking Data to Policy and Management Objectives and Practices
Developing Relationships and Collecting Data: Practical Applications by Mark Duiven
Linking Fisheries Data to Policy/Management Objectives by Colin Masson
Presentations on Test Fisheries
Count on Salmon Project by Brian Riddell
Marine Test Fisheries by Michael Staley
Qualark Creek: Fisheries & Oceans Canada Applied Technologies by Herman Enzenhofer
Day Two
First Nations Stock Assessment and Catch Monitoring
Catch Monitoring in Mid-Fraser by Lita Gomez
Secwepemc Fisheries Commission: Using Data as a Management Tool by Pat Matthew
Panel Discussion: First Nations Assuming Responsibility for Stock Assessment
Panel Members:
- Christina Ciesielski (Carrier Sekani Tribal Council)
- Mark Duiven (Skeena Fisheries Commission)
- Barry Huber (Fisheries & Oceans Canada)
Data Storage and Ownership
Central Coast Data Management Advisor Pilot by Megan Moody
DFO Stock Assessment Framework Update
Stock Assessment Framework Update by Arlene Tompkins
