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SALMON ENHANCEMENT AND HABITAT ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES

General Meeting, February 17 to 19, 2006
Coast Hotel and Conference Centre
Langley, BC

FRIDAY February 17 2006

Community Open House and Presentation: Groundwater Forum:
Contamination of Groundwater in Fraser Valley / Impacts on Salmon Bearing Streams
Presenters: Dave Tattam, Al Jonsson, Antigone Dixon-Warren, Kim Sutherland

SATURDAY February 18 2006

Present:
George Farrell, Don Lowen, Doug McFee, Janice Jarvis, Jennifer Atchison, Dianne Ramage, Eric Carlisle, Jeff Jung, Lynne Broekhuizen, Shaun Hollingsworth, Dave Smith, ZoAnn Morten, Jack Minard, Gord Wadley, Neil Brookes, Alan Kenney

Guests:
Greg Savard, Regional Director, Conservation & Protection, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)
Joe Kambeitz, Community Advisor, Stewardship and Community Involvement, DFO
Mark Johnson, Community Advisor, Stewardship and Community Involvement, DFO

REPORTS, ROUNDTABLES and PRESENTATIONS

Chair’s Report: George Farrell
Groundwater forum was successful: 85 people present. George thanked all those who worked to make this happen. George also noted the committee structure is working well, everyone is participating. Focusing on our community’s issues and bringing them to DFO’s attention is the most successful way to get matters resolved. George highlighted several “hot” issues, which will need attention in the future, particularly the Area Management model which appears to be dysfunctional.

Correspondence Outgoing:

Correspondence Incoming:

Treasurer’s Report: Janice Jarvis
Financial report as of the current date was circulated. On-line banking has been set up. Budget for next year will remain at the same level as this year. Jeff will look within the Department for someone to undertake an audit of SEHAB Annual Financial Statement

Administrative Assistant Report: Lorraine Harvey
Briefcases and binders are available and on hand for new members. Year-end approaching, all members please submit expense claims at the end of the meeting

Fisheries and Oceans Canada Conservation and Protection Greg Savard
Three things are top of mind: an overview of the Conservation and Protection Program in the region, a review of the Conservation and Protection Program from a National perspective and finally the EPMP

Mr. Savard outlined the staffing and responsibilities of the department. There are about 165 members and the areas on which they primarily focus (abalone and white sturgeon in the Fraser). Marine security is now becoming important, with the first interagency office being set up in Esquimalt on the DND base. Offshore aerial surveillance has also become important.

Recommendations made in Standing Committee and Williams reports have resulted in changes in enforcement. A pilot program was implemented last year and results are currently being evaluated.

National Compliance Review, a national initiative ongoing within government, has meant some changes in how the Department does its business. Energies have been focused on monitoring, control and surveillance, but now the emphasis is on education and stewardship, and forensic auditing within commercial fisheries. The Region will be making recommendations and expect to see some changes in a year or so.

EPMP is ongoing and Mr. Savard touched on the shifts taking place. Habitat management people will be the first responders to triage activities. Implementation is expected to be over three years with full implementation scheduled for April 2008. After April 1st of this year, expect to see some transition in roles and responsibilities. He felt that groups like SEHAB will be invaluable as things move forward.

Community Advisor Area Report: Joe Kambeitz
Joe has been with DFO since 1969 and has noticed a great decline in the public respect of the Department over the past 10 years. He feels this may be due to increased bureaucracy within the Department, with less field work, and therefore less protection. There seems to be less money available for the “on the ground” activities, with the result being that small things are being ignored, and volunteers are giving up in frustration. Having said that, Joe says that things are not that bad in his area, despite his budget being half of what it was in the beginning. Joe also reviewed the successes and challenges of the various salmon-bearing streams and rivers in the Langley area.

Joe suggested that a “Squealer Sheet” could be developed to deal with small infractions, something Fisheries Officers could carry with them to take anonymous complaints, similar to the Observe Record and Report operator assisted violation call in line. 604 666 –3500 for lower Fraser. Concurrently, a brochure could be developed: Things You Should Know About The Fisheries Act with a space for volunteers to write the observed problem and it could be left in a mail box, on a door knob or a car windshield. Later, a Fisheries Officer could stop by the site, assess the situation, determine action and follow-up - similar to the River Guardians Program. Because people would know that someone was watching, Joe feels this would reduce the number of infractions.

Joe contributed to the general discussion on Volunteer Recognition, how it is being done differently in different areas. SEHABs former role in Volunteer Recognition was discussed. Joe proposed a readily recognized jacket that could be given to long-serving volunteers as recognition for their years of service, 25 years was suggested. The jacket worn by navy cadets was suggested as a possible style for consideration.

Volunteer Recognition, Who is doing what where?
Outside of the SEP Service Recognition, the creation of new awards or the nomination of stewards to existing local, regional and national awards was discussed. It was agreed that creating new awards was difficult and required significant resource of time and funding. It was agreed to support the nomination of stewards to existing honours. The Stewardship Centre of B.C. is compiling a list of existing awards, look for this to be posted on the website.

National Stewardship Conference
3rd National Stewardship Conference, Cornerbrook, Newfoundland, July 5-8 2006
The community has challenged the Department to send 20 DFO staff to the conference to share and model the great work and leadership demonstrated through SEP in BC. Jeff indicated that he is would like input on how best to participate.

How Are We Doing With The New Board Structure
Internal Process Review, Rescheduled until May meeting

Workshop 2007: ZoAnn Morten
The stewards of the BC Interior region are reviewing the commitment and are considering being the host. The CAs and ZoAnn will continue to assist the process. Funds from Workshop 2005 are ready to be transferred to the new committee.

Gumboot Award: Doug McFee
Doug re-congratulated Jeff Jung as the first recipient of the Gumboot Award, given in recognition for getting out from behind his desk and out into the field to see what was really happening. Doug handed out nomination forms. This year, the committee has gone to the community for nominations and many of those received were for people who were already field personnel. Two nominees qualify. George requested attendees to append their names to the nomination forms to indicate their vote. Consistent process and criteria for nominations needs to be developed. Recipient decided by vote.

Area Roundtables:
Upper Skeena Roundtable Report
QCI/HAIDA GWAII ROUND TABLE
North Fraser Valley area
North Side of Fraser, Coquitlam Area
Burnaby
Lower Fraser Regional Stewardship
Lower Fraser River South Side
CENTRAL VANCOUVER ISLAND
NORTH ISLAND AND MAINLAND
SOUTH VANCOUVER ISLAND
Pacific Streamkeepers Federation
Steelhead Society
BCWF
Summary to Chief OHEB Post Feb 2006 Meeting

Wild Salmon Policy Update: Jack Minard
The WSP policy is divided into four parts/strategies. At the December 8th, 2005, DFO Community Consultation a large group of stakeholders reviewed the draft implementation plan and the individual strategies. Resources and financial support were considered key elements to its success. See separate report.

EPMP Update: Jack Minard
SEHAB’s Habitat Protection Committee, with responsibilities that include participating in the EPMP consultation process and the gathering of case studies from the community attended a presentation on Feb 16 2006. Based on this and the reports from the stewardship community the committee rejects the EPMP in totality. The analysis, as presented by Jack to the full SEHAB Board, with both Joe Kambeitz and Greg Savard present will be included in a letter to the Minister.

Action Items of Last Meeting

SUNDAY February 19 2006

BUSINESS MEETING

Special Presentations
9:00 DFO Regional Education Strategy: 2005 Survey of Volunteer Delivery of Education Mark Johnson
Stream to Sea: A strategy that guides the works of DFO education staff in their work with Schools. The strategy provides a clear picture of the shared vision for DFO’s aquatic education from kindergarten to grade 12, and its stated goal is to “help create aquatic stewards.” In 2003, DFO revised this program to have an ecosystem approach, and two years after its introduction, the Department prepared a survey to determine how the new program was working and what community partners needed from them as a result of the changes.
This session was introduced by Don Lowen, who gave some background information and the history of salmonid education as undertaken by DFO.
Mark then made some introductory comments about the survey and reported on the results.

View survey presentation

View Stream to Sea presentation

Standing Committees

Governance (See posted minutes): Don Lowen
Two conference calls held to determine how to approach the matter of how we are doing under the new terms of reference. Four action items came from these conversations.

Communication: ZoAnn Morten
The Committee met through conference calls and e-mail, which proved effective. Please completed your group listing and send to ZoAnn the chair, this demonstrates to DFO our constituency. In this regard, some criteria need to be developed as to what we communicate to these groups.

Membership: Lynne/Jack
Jack outlined the suggested following changes to the Terms of Reference with regard to membership in SEHAB. Changes were approved by the committee via e-mail.
Consensus decision to accept all changes.
Lynne and Jack developed a membership matrix as a tool for evaluating nominations for membership. They asked for input, and review. After discussion, it was agreed that it was not necessary.
In future, brief bios will be requested from prospective members and these will be sent electronically to all members for information purposes.
Ian Maxwell’s nomination has been approved. He should receive all background documents and tools, etc. that new members get. Lorraine to prepare binder, brief case and business cards for him, along with a welcome letter.
Gord Wadley has been approved as Ev’s alternate.
Neil Brookes attended as a prospective replacement to Gord Stewart. A brief bio and his CA’s letter of support are still outstanding.
Joanne Nicklas to be reconfirmed as the Kamloops area alternate.
David Aldcroft has been proposed as Don’s alternate. CA letter still outstanding.
Members to request bios and pictures from alternates.

Education Committee (See posted minutes): Don Lowen
Jack and Don are leading this committee. Theresa Southam, DFO Education Curriculum Coordinator, and Community Advisor Mark Johnson will also participate on committee. First meeting held January 23rd. Various priorities of the committee were reviewed. A list of speakers to do presentations at schools will be developed. SEHAB members to be involved in circulating list to the communities.
Don Lowen asked whether or not alternative language would be helpful to describe the role and contribution to differentiate between ”formal” and “informal” education, as currently used.
Terms of reference will be set up for the committee.

New Business

Coho Spawner Numbers: Eric Carlisle
Eric recommended that Jim Irvine, DFO, be invited to next meeting to share province-wide data on coho. Suggested this be our next Friday evening public forum topic. George to invite Jim. Jack volunteered to coordinate this forum.

New Minister of Fisheries
Request advice from Denis D'Amours at February 20th mewing on protocol to request meeting with minister. SEHAB to send letter of introduction to Minister and to share thoughts on national policies.

Review identified action items for next meeting

Review identified agenda items for next meeting

PLANNING
Minutes from this meeting to be ratified by March 17/06.
Date of next meeting May 13th and 14th, 2006, Holiday Inn North Vancouver, please let Lorraine know availability and requirements
Invitation to build agenda on (30 days before next meeting)
Draft agenda due on (14 days before next meeting)

ADJOURN AT 1:10 PM

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