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PSkF / SEHAB roundtable report Nov 2017

Lots of opportunity for input to processes this past year.

  Fisheries Act - HADD was a focus to have included in new Act
 
 Standing Committee report was accepted and agreed upon by department. Now to see what the outcome will be from the processes put into place. Hoping Dec / early Jan to hear this. Funding through DFO to restoration has increased dramatically so hoping this links to habitat, and will be  seen as one way to rebuild fish stocks. Rebuild / restore are words that would be helpful in the Act.

 Wild Salmon Policy - consultative process with DFO is back on track with staff taking the draft implementation plan to areas of the Province for input as well as an online workbook. 

 * Caution as to if habitat and resource management are still separate in their delivery of policy, then the delivery will be compartmentalized. It’s important that habitat be recognized as important to the resource. Where authority has been delegated elsewhere, it is important the DFO, as the Federal agency (lead government) ensure that where they have delegated authority it is indeed protecting the resource as intended.

 Provincial government diking. The management of dikes is causing concern as to damage to fish habitat. Softer infrastructure with long term thinking as to higher waters, additional hard surfaces causing more runoff, lack of vegetation to allow for transpiration...... need for DFO and Provincial governments to work together to allow for the provisions in the Fisheries Act to be successful.

 Many groups undertaking Spawner Surveys using the DFO Streamkeeper Stream Inspection Log protocols. This data can help inform the WSP as well as the strong monitoring platforms such as Module 1,2,3,4 and 11. Where spawner surveys for pinks were undertaken they showed low returns.

 Low waters from natural run off as well as low waters from lack of infrastructure maintenance makes it hard for returning adults to successfully spawn in their natal streams.

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Faith in new government crumbling. Latest news last night of Lelu Island going ahead doesn't help
New policy to come but will it be better? Will it be clearly written so as to be enforceable? Will it be enforced? By whom?
New BC school curriculum will bring onslaught of new school interest. Stream to Sea Programming is idela for new learning outcomes teaching
Need to get a better understanding of DFO stream to sea program to help funnel this interest and look at non harmful ways for students to interact and learn of streams
We hear of new partnerships forming. Looking for solid support for the existing longterm partnerships that are in place with department
$s for new partnership is large quantities - mostly restoration works based
Small dollars are hard to get out the door
Rfcpp large dollars allows for 90% of funds up front - small dollars for PIP and there is a need for deliverables to be delivered before funds are released PIP is mostly volunteer groups while the bigger projects are RFCPP
Sep budgets stagnant

Take care ZoAnn

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SALMON ENHANCEMENT AND HABIAT ADVISORY BOARD

SEHAB, The Voice of the Salmon Enhancement Program Volunteer

Roundtable

Our Vision: Pacific Region communities living sustainably within the natural limitations of healthy ecosystems supporting abundant and biologically diverse Pacific salmonids.

Our Mission: SEHAB C.A.R.E.S. SEHAB is the voice of the volunteer community dedicated to:
Communicating
Advocating
Representing
Educating, and
Supporting its endeavours.

SEHAB and the community have a shared commitment of ensuring functioning ecosystems supporting viable, genetically diverse and abundant indigenous fish populations.

Our partner, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)

DFO Vision: Excellence in service to Canadians to ensure the sustainable development and safe use of Canadian waters.

DFO Mission: It is our mission, as DFO employees, to deliver to Canadians the following outcomes:

• Safe and Accessible Waterways;
• Healthy and Productive Aquatic Ecosystems; and
• Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture.

In working toward these outcomes, the Department will be guided by the principles of sound scientific knowledge and effective management.

DFO Mandate, on behalf of the Government of Canada, DFO is responsible for developing and implementing policies and programs in support of Canada’s scientific, ecological, social and economic interests in oceans and fresh waters.

The Salmonid Enhancement Program (SEP) plays a key role in DFO's work to conserve and manage Pacific salmon stocks. The program's activities aim to rebuild vulnerable salmon stocks, provide harvest opportunities, work with First Nations and coastal communities in economic development, and improve fish habitat to sustain salmon populations. SEP broke new ground when it was launched in 1977 by working closely with citizens and schools to raise awareness of salmon conservation and to carry out hands-on community salmon enhancement and stewardship projects. Three of the program's main activities are:

• Fish Hatcheries
• Resource Restoration
• Stewardship and Education

SEHAB Member: ZoAnn Morten

Area: Province wide rep for Pacific Streamkeepers Federation

Community Advisor:

Date: June 2012

SEHAB Submissions, Comments from Groups:

Number of emails extraordinary due to C38. Is getting more and more dificult to keep up with all the emails and changes with government / policy etc. Keep being told that things are to be streamlined and more efficient but not sure that is for the NGO’s workload

Stay positive, stay focussed, stay on track with your local monitoring as now more then ever this local information will be vital. Relationships with those who have authority have been invested in over the years and will continue to be of great value for all.

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Pacific Streamkeepers Federation

SEHAB Roundtable January 29^th 2011 Issues are numbered 1 to 11

1) Environmental Assessments – current process. Can only see where one request for development (change to landscape) had been denied due to an EA report.

http://a100.gov.bc.ca/appsdata/epic/html/deploy/epic_project_list_report.html

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/bmp/devwithcare2006/DWC%202006%20Sec%201%20Introduction.pdf

http://www.llbc.leg.bc.ca/public/pubdocs/bcdocs/374290/ebmp%20pdf%201.pdf

2) New process underway Towards an Environmental Mitigation and Offsettng Policy for British Columbia: A Discussion Paper

Can be found at http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/emop/docs/EMOP_DiscussionPaper.pdf

It will be policies like this that oversee the development that IS going to go ahead determines how to / who will “fix” the problem, or replace habitat elsewhere (yet one example was of amphibians being moved during the building of sea to sky, not sure this is my idea of mitigation of habitat loss.)

EA data that is collected by proponents is not being captured into a database for future (or present use)

3) Aquaculture Licensing – including SEP projects under this

Found out about this via a listserve informing First Nations of upcoming meeting with DFO / Aquaculture Working Group

Minutes from SEHAB conference call into RHQ included: (but didn’t know what it meant, internal SEHAB communications issue)

. Report: Immediate impact of recent court decision (Morton vs BC) on Departmental policy and

structure - Andrew Thomson (Regional Director, Aquaculture)

• Morton et al vs Attorney-General of BC determined that DFO must manage salmon farming as a fishery.

• Licensing still under BC authority

• Regs include bivalves and fin fish (Fisheries Act also protects marine mammals)

• Court decision applies to enhancement facilities

• Draft of regulations sent to Cabinet

• “What we Heard” document contains all 530 comments from public, considered in drafting of new regs.

• Enhancement facility license not same as aquaculture license

• July 1/11 deadline for licensing PIP/CEDP facilities.

• Aquaculture Branch plans to attend May 2011 Workshop in Campbell River to outline new licensing requirements and to process applications.

• Classroom incubators will require one license to cover large areas.

• Proposed $0 fee for conservation facilities

Quote from community on this, seems enhancement in lower mainland had their target numbers cut right before this, would like to use historical numbers for license in case cuts by percent not by written policy change comes into play.

Weird formatting here that I can’t get rd of
Strongly feel this was ideal time for department to come to SEHAB prior to application. (or even the CA’s)

Quote from community “You can’t fish down the food chain and then punish “us” (volunteer SEP) by reducing numbers.

This new change to the way DFO does business is happening SO fast, “we” are often told DFO can’t change things quickly but courts DFO took over responsibility of overseeing aquaculture in B.C. from the provincial government on December 18, 2010. and new licensing policy and 52 new employees on the books, with new signed agreements (licenses) complete by July 1st. Either this was already in the works or department can act quickly when they want. 

4) Dear Zo Ann Morten:

On December 17, 2010 the Ministry of Environment released a Policy Proposal on British Columbia’s new Water Sustainability Act.  Part of the BC Government’s Water Act modernization initiative, the proposed Water Sustainability Act will update and build on the current Water Act and position BC as a leader in water stewardship.

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be further explaining the proposed framework and the seven key policy areas of the proposed Water Sustainability Act on the Living Water Smart Blog.  We welcome your feedback and encourage you to join the conversation by posting your comments and questions on the Blog.  Comments and questions can also be submitted by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by fax to (250) 356-1202.

While we appreciate your emails, letters and faxes, participating in the dialogue on the Blog allows others to build on your ideas.  It also allows you to view and rank the comments and questions of other British Columbians, which will help us to better understand what’s important to you as we move forward. Thisquestion and comment period on the proposed Water Sustainability Act will be open until February 21, 2011.

We thank you for your commitment to water stewardship and look forward to hearing from you. Together, we can build a sustainable future for British Columbia’s water resources.

Huge, need to comment as one voice can sway a meetingzm

5) Attended session on Charitable reporting, very worthwhile CD of how to’s for groups able to copy

http://www.thecharitiesfile.ca/en/content/fundraising-learning-example-20 for more information

6) I did get a note from Habitat Monitoring department

We are fully staffed with 12 

A biologist and Technician in each area and 2 biologists in

headquarters. Took a wee bit longer to get hiring and in place then aquaculture hiring and process.

7) WSP – data from community to inform. Working with DFO Nanaimo to bring community data into WSP implementation.

EPMP / Habitat Monitoring update – form is now “live” and ready to be populated. Write up will be in next StreamTalk as to when, where why to send in this info.

8) Staffing changes CA positions – process? Skillset? Fish husbandry / knowledge of policy / acts / able to get permits / engineering / biology / Have concern over process slipping and new hires not as connected to community / fish husbandry skills as in the past. Would like DFO to review criteria for past hires compared to new hires. With more accountability to fish culture protocols / risk, is even more important now that CA’s have knowledge.

9) With new alignment of SEP hatcheries falling under aquaculture (need more info on this) would it be prudent for SEHAB to attend one of these sessions (if able) or ask to be a part of the process so we can help mold the future? Take care ZoAnn

FIRST NATIONS FISHERIES COUNCIL

SUPPORTING STEWARDSHIP OF FISHERIES RESOURCES

FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS

Sent: January-11-11 1:23 PM
To: Regional First Nations Fisheries Organizations
Subject: Important Meeting Notice -- Aquaculture
Importance: High



Hello everyone,



The First Nations Fisheries Council and the Aquaculture Working Group will be hosting a series of important aquaculture meetings. On January 24, a joint DFO-FN aquaculture workshop will be held in Richmond. This initial workshop will be followed by a number of First Nations community sessions in February (Port Alberni, Alert Bay, Bella Bella, Prince Rupert, Kamloops). These meetings will provide an opportunity for First Nations to learn more about the proposed aquaculture management framework for BC, ask questions, and provide feedback.

10) Breakfast meeting- topic Myths of Water – Myths were things we think are good in Canada but aren’t quite as good as we believe. (will expand on this and repost with comments) Myth that we have lots of water, yes lots of standing water (lakes) Lake Superior refreshes at 1% per year

11) Rumor of Stock Assessment budget cut, outfall will be that Black creek will not be monitored this year. Black Creek is indicator stream for Coho (only one?)


Thoughts from ZoAnn

Our world is changing

Aquaculture licensing

Water act changes

Habitat protection (EPMP)

CA hiring processes

Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency

Mitigation and Offsetting of damage

How can anyone keep track?

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SEHAB Roundtable Pacific Streamkeepers Federation

I Date June 2010 – October 2010

II Area Province wide

III Representative Zo Ann Morten

IV Challenges/Issues and Opportunities/Successes of the Volunteer Aquatic

Stewards

A. Management (Fisheries Management)

Need stronger wording from department as to how decisions are made during fishing opening / why they are closed when they are. Seen as if community could make better decisions (while community is taking) there are groups who determine how much and where / when.

Good article in paper this morning very clear, we are doing this, it isn’t going to interfere with fish (bridge work)  ( we are within rules and we’ll be done by… clear communications

B. Enforcement (Conservation and Protection)

Streamkeepers Federation and Habitat Compliance Monitoring Program fine tuned reporting protocol that will assist Department in knowing where works are underway in community that may be being done under the EPMP operating statements. This will assist in tracking accumulated impacts and opportunities for evaluating the operating statements. As well Streamkeeper groups can read the operating statements and then compare the works done to see how and when they are appropriate.

http://www-heb.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/decisionsupport/os/operational_statements_e.htm

C. Habitat - Freshwater (Oceans, Habitat and Enhancement)

Water Act Modernization held three meetings Victoria, Kelowna and Prince George. ZoAnn attended Kelowna and Dianne attended Victoria. Will update when the meeting notes come out. Not sure they achieved their goals as laid out in the agenda.

Enbridge, forward invites to others who are from the area.

E. Salmon Enhancement (Oceans, Habitat and Enhancement)

Many Community Advisors calling as to Streamkeepers VIP to help groups get this in order to receive PIP grants. Groups are reporting now that although they at first were hesitant to become societies are finding they are understanding benefits from this new role.

G. Stewardship & Community Involvement (Stewardship & Community)

Have been working with the Stewardship Centre for BC on StewardshipWorks! To put on a workshop to bring funders and stewards together in order to entice new partnerships for core funding. Following on the success of Workshop 2009 Barry Peters and groups in Campbell River are busy planning of 2011.

Pat and I have been working with John Barker of the West Vancouver Streamkeepers to produce a new video on storm drain marking school program. Streamkeepers training of Modules 1,2,3,4,7,and 11 conducted in many areas of BC, and Module 12 as requested.

Many requests for PSkF to put in inkind support to a variety of groups who received funding with different windows then when PSkF set up their year work plan and we have our deliverables in place. This is extra work to fulfill “their” deliverables. With time committed at beginning of year it is hard to accommodate requests for involvement.

A question I ask myself. Does fisheries want community to do habitat works? Engineers needed, biologists needed, useful CA’s needed etc

Does dfo know what they want from stewardship community? once there is an understanding as to what fisheries mandates are fulfilled when groups do (……..)  then they can see, where dfo mandates align with community interest in data collection

Has DFO mandate broadened to have a diversity of goals different then the past? With diversity of goals comes the need for diversity of funding.

We don’t just need more tools, we need time, support workers (agency staff) and to know what will be done with this information / need to see change

Funding: due to cutbacks, government is now going to same funders as community, not just in fisheries

Sep review - need to be clear on what we do without limiting innovative thinking from info being gathered

Changes to CSP

H. Consultations: Acts, Regulations, Policy, Program Development and

Implementation, Capacity, and Partnerships (Consultations)

Where does community fit into policy – we need to understand policy processes

http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/consultation/cal/2010/index-eng.htm

Noticing the consultation calendar I can’t find anywhere where DFO is meeting with public / stewardship as they have in the past. Roundtables but not open meetings. When does DFO consult with their stewardship community?

Sehab could be asked

Get explanation and consequence of sep review

I.Treaty & Aboriginal Programs (Treaty & Aboriginal Programs)

www.frafs.ca?q=node/32 The Visions Fisheries workshop, chance to share projects, discuss fisheries issues with other technical folks and get up to date information on programs, funding, and ongoing initiatives.  (Stock assessment)

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Pacific Streamkeepers Federation Round Table report Jan 25, 2010 to May 28 2010.

Challenges/Issues and Opportunities/Successes of the Volunteer Aquatic Stewards

i) Management: Have been watching fisheries back east crab, lobster, seal, atlantics. Atlantic salmon foundation had budget from department to count fish and other monitoring, budget last year 24 mil this year 12 mil.

$’s within appropriately fundind DFO then they can have ability to contract appropriately, contractors accountable to Department mandate then DFO accountable for overall mandate

Enforcement Operating Statements – Have drafted a webbased reporting form for community to inform Department of activities they come across that they feel are under an Operating statement (authority). This will assist DFO in evaluating the OS process and in determine accumulated impact area. ORR stays in place for problems you may find in your watershed.

http://www.pskf.ca/publications/streamactivities/

ii) Wsp Habitat - Freshwater Reviewed website to provide advice about the design of salmon monitoring programs.  The website is intended for several different audiences including stewardship group.

iii) .Habitat - Oceans, Estuaries and Marine See SCBC funding

iv) Stewardship & Community Involvement. Insurance

Worked with UBC Civil Engineer Students (3 groups, 21 students in total) to work on issues related to storm water and off channel water) Working with RCEN on project for International Year of Bio Diversity

Now working with mechanical engineers for stock assessment camera in culvert project (idea for them to do)

Stewardshipworks! – planning meeting for funders / community continue the core funding grants programming

v) Consultations: Acts, Regulations, Policy, Program Development and Implementation, Capacity, and Partnerships

Took part in conference call on changes to the Navigable Waters Act, questions / comments sent in as well. Speaking for the Salmon Conference WOSK Centre with SFU.

vi) Treaty & Aboriginal Programs

vii) Streamkeepers 5 day training program

Safe and Accessible Waters (Canadian Coast Guard, Navigable Waters,Small Craft Harbours) navigable water conference call 2 pages of comments in

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I Date November 8 2009 – January 22, 2010

II Area Province wide

III Representative Zo Ann Morten

IV Challenges/Issues and Opportunities/Successes of the Volunteer Aquatic

Stewards

A. Management (Fisheries Management)

With Marine Conservation Caucus signed on to request that Canada has a seat at the table in discussions on 200 mile fisheries limit.

B. Enforcement (Conservation and Protection)

Streamkeepers Federation met with department to be briefed on the Habitat Compliance Monitoring Program and to share the Streamkeepers protocols to see where how the two programs mesh to better monitor compensation projects. The Streamkeepers Federation will draw up a reporting protocol for review that will assist Department in knowing where works are underway in community that may be being done under the EPMP operating statements. Will assist in tracking accumulated impacts and opportunities for evaluating the operating statements. Pedestrian Bridge over Brothers Creek in West Vancouver good example of need to watch over these projects. As well Streamkeeper groups can read the operating statements and then compare the works done .to see how and when they are appropriate.

http://www-heb.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/decisionsupport/os/operational_statements_e.htm

C. Habitat - Freshwater (Oceans, Habitat and Enhancement)

Sewage

Streamkeepers across BC are working with their municipalities or planners to develop watershed plans as they have the local knowledge on habitat and wildlife. Work continues on the Wild Salmon Policy, worth keeping abreast of http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/species-especes/salmon-saumon/wsp-pss/news-nouvelles-eng.htm

http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/CSAS/Csas/Publications/Pro-CR/2009/2009_038_E.pdf speaks to habitat indicators.

http://livingwatersmart.ca/ Living water Smaart program and opportunity for input:

but who knows its there and what does it mean to watershed health

Enbridge, called around to local groups, forward invites that PSkF receives to locals

The Red Chris Project outcome appears to shine the light on ways around the policy put in place to protect http://disc.yourwebapps.com/discussion.cgi?disc=198175;article=5178;title=The%20Pacific%20Streamkeepers%20Federation

E. Salmon Enhancement (Oceans, Habitat and Enhancement)

I have talked to the newest members of the Community Advisors with Fisheries and Oceans, they are learning the local issues and working with the SEP community. I feel the department would benefit from a respond to the SEP evaluation. http://sehab.ca/accomplishments/60-issues-raised/106-references-to-community-involvement-program-performance.

F. Science, Canadian Hydrographic Service (Science and Research)

G. Stewardship & Community Involvement (Stewardship & Community)

Fall is a busy time of counting fish and collecting brood. Planning fro the upcoming year will take precedence now. Phone calls are again on the rise asking about our Streamkeepers VIP (volunteer insurance plan) http://www.pskf.ca/program/insurance.html we will be asking the underwriters and department about adding DFO as additional insured on all policies. The list of FAQ & A`s continue to grow and be of value to our membership. http://www.pskf.ca/program/insurancefaq.html

The Streamkeepers Federation message board at http://www.pskf.ca/message.html iswell populated with a variety of topics but remains focussed on issues of watershed health, sign up today.

Following on the success of Workshop 2009 we now turn to planning of 2011.

H. Consultations: Acts, Regulations, Policy, Program Development and

Implementation, Capacity, and Partnerships (Consultations)

http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/consultation/cal/2010/index-eng.htm

Noticing the consultation calendar is biased towards fishing, would like to see more as to habitat and community awareness. Maybe it just needs to be more complete as no mention of SARA Consultations for Basking Shark, Misty Lake Sticklebacks, and West Slope Cutthroat Trout that took place in January.

Pinks on the Piers Program guideline review. Many thanks to Carol Cross for reviewing and responding to our comments and concerns on this program

Watershed Watch Salmon Society, Ecojustice and the Polis Project on Ecological Governance held a meeting on Dec. 2nd on reform of BC's Water Act. At that meeting we discussed priorities for better protection of water in BC, and reviewed a draft Statement of Expectations from BC NGOs on Reform of the BC Water Act. After the meeting, we received comments, and amended the document to reflect these comments and also what we heard at the meeting. It is now shorter and more forceful.

See the final version of Statement of Expectations and consider signing on to this Statement, and endorsing these recommendations to reform BC's Water Act.

We plan to send this document to the Minister of the Environment and other key people at the Ministry of the Environment at the end of next week, Dec. 18th. We hope this document will influence the government's agenda for BC Water Act reform, which is planned to proceed this winter and spring.

Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by December 17, 2009 if your group wants to be added as a signatory. We believe that the more groups that sign on, the better. There is strength in having the environmental community deliver a common message on this initiative.

Opportunity to comment on BC wide call to ban cosmetic pesticide use. (cosmetic is important word as some invasive species may only respond to appropriate pesticide application)

http://www.cancer.ca/British%20Columbia-Yukon/About%20us/Media%20centre/BC-Media%20releases/Canadian%20Cancer%20Society%20proposal%20to%20ban%20use%20of%20cosmetic%20pesticides%20in%20BC.aspx?sc_lang=en

I.Treaty & Aboriginal Programs (Treaty & Aboriginal Programs)

J. Safe and Accessible Waters (Canadian Coast Guard, Navigable

Waters, Small Craft Harbours)

http://disc.yourwebapps.com/discussion.cgi?id=198175;article=5155;search_term=navigable Lake Ontario Waterkeepers have good easy to read write up

In the past non profits were given funding to take on departmental jobs – now this funding has been depleted and there is no one at DFO with the task in their job desctiption

Long time volunteers now in positions of influence

So many issues drain, opportunity for disagreement – focus focus

Groups are goping through the same issues as SEHAB – too many issues – running – see how some of the groups (all sizes) who succeed have done it and highlight their way of doing business

Community to know their watersheds and people to come