Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the
Coalition of National Non-Government Organizations
Collaboration on Fish Habitat Management

The National NGO Coalition and Fisheries and Oceans Canada agreed in 2004 to work together to achieve “a common vision and watershed-based, ecosystem approach for protecting, conserving, and restoring fish and fish habitats that is expressed in, and delivered through, a work plan and agreement…”

This collaborative initiative provides the opportunity to assure that other relevant federal environmental initiatives (e.g., Agricultural Policy Framework, North American Waterfowl Management Plan and Project Green) are integrated into the development and implementation of the work plan.

As a first step, last year, the Coalition and DFO conducted a survey and identified areas of common interest and opportunities for collaboration to advance their vision of fish habitat management under five themes: 1) stewardship 2) integrated planning 3) research and monitoring 4) regulatory and 5) consultation, communication, awareness and training.

A workshop was held in May 2005 where all parties worked to develop specific, strategic activities that will form the basis for a work plan for 2005-2006, and to develop the main points of a formal cooperative agreement.

Stewardship Opportunities
All NGO Coalition members have identified stewardship as a priority, referring to those activities that engage their provincial and local member organizations, their individual members, other non-government conservation organizations, government agencies, landowners, private companies, Aboriginal communities and other citizens in working together to sustain natural ecological functions of habitats and to discourage the interference with these ecological functions. NGOs play a key role in helping Canadians make conscious decisions every day to act responsibly in conserving, protecting and restoring fish habitats. NGOs use the best scientific information to guide these stewardship activities.

The following broad areas of potential collaboration are identified to guide work planning.

  1. Strengthen and advance stewardship partnerships, programs, procedures and practices, for fish habitat.
  2. Exchange information on
    • Public awareness and recognition programs that have been effective in encouraging stewardship behavior
    • Skills in organizing volunteers to take part in stewardship activities
    • Ways in which stewardship programs in one application could be transferable to a totally different application, and
    • Development and sharing of tools and methods.

    3. Integrated Planning Opportunities for Habitat Management
    Integrated planning ensures watershed solutions that are environmentally, socially and economically sustainable. This theme recognizes that single issue resource management decisions and actions that do not take into account other aspects of the watershed are often not sustainable. The theme captures opportunities to work together with other stakeholders in the watershed planning process, to consider the effects of fish habitat management on other aspects of the watershed, and the effects of other land uses in the watershed on fish habitat management. The following broad areas of potential collaboration have been identified to guide work planning.

  3. Work proactively with the other stakeholders, including provinces and territories, the National Resource Industries Associations, other industries and communities, to develop, or augment existing, integrated watershed management plans.
  4. Share information on the successes and challenges of integrated watershed management plans and programs.
  5. Develop a set of design and planning tools, methodologies and procedures for implementation, which can assist in integrated watershed planning.

    6. Research and Monitoring Opportunities

    The NGO Coalition and DFO recognize the importance of research and monitoring to help guide effective conservation and protection of fish and fish habitat. A few of the NGO Coalition members and DFO have significant research or monitoring capabilities, including “citizen science” initiatives, that can be used through an adaptive management approach to strengthen or advance new programs, policies and techniques.

    The following broad areas of potential collaboration have been identified to guide work planning.

  6. Exchange research, monitoring and other scientific information related to fish and fish habitat.
  7. Develop research and monitoring priorities for fish habitat conservation, protection and restoration.
  8. Develop standardized user friendly monitoring techniques, mapping protocols, and databases related to fish and fish habitat.
  9. Partner on fish habitat research and monitoring projects.

    10. Regulatory Opportunities
    When NGOs undertake projects that affect fish and fish habitat, they are bound by regulations that protect those resources - federally under the Fisheries Act and provincially under relevant provincial legislation. The following broad areas of potential collaboration have been identified to guide work planning.

  10. Develop and operate under a more cooperative and partner-like working relationship with respect to the interpretation and authorization of activities associated with existing regulations, towards a new level of trust and respect between DFO and the NGOs. This could include working together to establish protocols with respect to referral systems, develop operational statements, guidelines and best management practices, and define of roles and responsibilities. Also promote a clear understanding and interpretation of legislation, policies, guidelines and best management practices designed to protect, conserve, and restore fish habitat.
  11. Use the information contained in new tools being developed under the Environmental Process Modernization Plan, such as the Operational Statements and Pathways of Effects models, to update best management practices as required.
  12. Promote progressive legislative and policy changes that would advance the collective vision of fish habitat management, and speak out against those that would impede the achievement of that vision. Provide input to the formative stages of new policies and regulations that may affect fish habitat management.

    13. Consultation, Communication, Awareness and Training Opportunities

    Habitat management requires the awareness, support and active involvement of Canadians. NGOs and DFO are engaged in many innovative and far-reaching public outreach programs focused on particular audiences and interests. The following broad areas of potential collaboration have been identified to guide work planning.

  13. Develop joint public education materials and programs about fish and fish habitat protection, conservation and restoration.
  14. Exchange prepared materials and permit use of anything applicable to other organizations activities, and share information and expertise on communications, awareness and training programs.
  15. Inform the public and industry on joint initiatives and current information concerning fish habitat conservation, protection and restoration.

Steering Committee

Todd Dupuis Atlantic Salmon Federation
Brian Gray (Co chair) Ducks Unlimited Canada
Patrice LeBlanc (Co chair) Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Dana Imbeault Nature Canada
Thea Silver Nature Conservancy of Canada
Paul Kariya Pacific Salmon Foundation
Jack Imhof
Lynn McIntyre Wildlife Habitat Canada

List of Participants

Steering Committee
Todd Dupuis Atlantic Salmon Federation
Brian Gray (Co chair) Ducks Unlimited Canada
Patrice LeBlanc (Co chair) Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Dana Imbeault Nature Canada
Nature Conservancy of Canada
Paul Kariya Pacific Salmon Foundation
Jack Imhof Trout Unlimited Canada
Lynn McIntyre Wildlife Habitat Canada
Workshop Participants
Stephen Boulet Nature Canada
Kara Brodribb Nature Conservancy Canada (National)
Fred Calverley Trout Unlimited Canada
Ted Cooke Fisheries and Oceans Canada (HQ-Habitat)
Peter Delaney Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Pacific Region)
Tom Duffy Ducks Unlimited Canada
Ray Finn Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Newfoundland)
Louise Gratton Nature Conservancy Canada (Quebec Region)
Sue Kirby Fisheries and Oceans Canada (ADM-Oceans and Habitat)
Garry Linsey Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Central and Arctic)
Ron Maher Ducks Unlimited Canada
Geneviève Marquis Fisheries and Oceans Canada (HQ-Science Sector)
Charlotte McKay Wildlife Habitat Canada
Guy Michaud Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Quebec)
Margo Nicolacopoulos Nature Conservancy Canada
Ted Potter Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Maritimes)
Dianne Ramage Pacific Salmon Foundation
Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the
Bill Ritchie Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Gulf)
Sue Rocque Fisheries and Oceans Canada (HQ-Recreational Fisheries)
Paul Savoie Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Great Lakes)
Sue Scott Atlantic Salmon Federation
Brian Torrie Fisheries and Oceans Canada (HQ-Habitat)
Rick West Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Prairies)
Nicholas Winfield Fisheries and Oceans Canada (HQ-Habitat)
James Wohl Ducks Unlimited Canada j_wohl@ducks.ca
Len Yust Trout Unlimited Canada
Andrew deVries National Resource Industry Associations
Pat MacGregor Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Joe O’Connor Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers’ Freshwater Fisheries Task Group
Peigi Wilson Assembly of First Nations
TBD Environment Canada
Regrets
Pierre Lemieux Fisheries and Oceans Canada Conservation and Protection
Erin Murphy Federation of Canadian Municipalities