ISRP terms of reference
Skeena Salmon Review Terms of Reference
Objective
• To renew the Skeena salmon management approach based on Wild Salmon Policy Principles, address the interests of First Nations, enhance the viability and sustainability of the commercial and recreational fisheries for the people of Canada.
Principles
• Conservation of wild Skeena salmon (including steelhead) and their habitats is the highest priority in resource management decision-making.
• Resource management processes and decisions will honour Canada’s obligations to First Nations.
• Resource management decisions will consider biological, social, and economic consequences, reflect best science including Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge (ATK), and maintain wild Skeena salmon and steelhead stocks for future generations.
• Provide for sustainable First Nations, commercial and recreational fisheries
Why a fresh approach for the Skeena?
WSP Implementation – there is a broad based public interest seeking greater accountability for resource conservation
• WSP implementation requires a new way of doing business: DFO needs to translate the principles to operational management.
• Key challenge is to develop assessment frameworks and abundance-based management plans that respect concerns for individual conservation units.
Environmental uncertainty has caused concerns for resource and fisheries sustainability
• Climate change effects on Skeena salmon are evident.
• Generally poor ocean survivals for Skeena salmon juveniles gong to sea in 2003 and 2005.
• Significant sockeye migration behaviour shifts in 2006.
• Current assessment programs and management plans are not designed to deal with the increased fluctuations in abundance and behaviour.
First Nations Fisheries Challenges and Opportunities
• Specific concerns for Wet’suwet’en and Gitanyow regarding access to salmon for food.
• Great interest in FN economic opportunity salmon fisheries – recent pilots in Skeena and linkage to current DFO policy initiatives
• Terminal surplus fisheries need to be integrated into watershed management plans.
• Active First Nation Land Claim negotiations on the Skeena.
Economic Viability and Sustainability of the Commercial Fishery
• Rationalisation of the fishery is required in the context of WSP requirements, FN’s aspirations and economic forces in the industry.
• Commercial fisheries are economically viable and maximize quality and value.
• Monitoring and reporting are conducted domestically and in the international market place to demonstrate the fisheries are managed sustainability
• Prospects for MSC certification and renewal will be enhanced by the Skeena Salmon Review, and certification is essential for exporting sockeye to E.U. markets.
Certainty and Stability for the Recreational Fishery
• Domestic and international participants in the Skeena watershed recreational fishery desire increased confidence in the abundance and sustainability of salmon and steelhead populations, and will play a significant role in shaping Skeena fisheries discussions.
• Resolution of steelhead concerns requires a cooperative partnership between Federal and Provincial interests.
• The recreational sector is a significant harvester of Skeena chinook and coho and therefore will be directly affected in abundance based management plans for these species.
The Skeena Salmon Review Key Components
The Skeena salmon review is a joint effort of the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the provincial Ministry of Environment. The agencies will directly support the review, seek financial support from within their agencies and from partner funding organizations.
• The Moore Foundation, an independent trust, is prepared to provide significant funding through the Pacific Salmon Foundation to support the initiative.
• A Skeena Independent Science Review Panel (SISRP) is being convened to ensure the best available science and Traditional Ecological Knowledge is available to provide an agreed technical base for management planning.
• A socioeconomic study of Skeena commercial and recreational salmon harvest regimes has been commissioned by NGO’s through the Pacific salmon foundation. It is anticipated that this technical analysis will also be useful to inform the watershed process.
• DFO and the Province of BC in cooperation with Skeena First Nations, harvest sectors and other public interests will create a Skeena watershed governance structure for Skeena salmon.
• Once the science advice is available, DFO and the Province of BC will provide instructions to a Skeena watershed planning body to renew assessment and management plans based on the science advice.
Skeena Independent Science Review Panel (SISRP)
• DFO in partnership with the Province of BC will be responsible for naming the wise science persons to be part of the review, and outlining the terms of reference and the scope of the science review.
• The SISRP will be completely independent, with no representatives from DFO, BC, or any interest group.
• It will be administratively housed at the Pacific Salmon Foundation, and receive data and technical assistance from LGL, a fisheries consultancy.
• The panel is to have full access to any pertinent information from governments and as well as full access to government staff.
• The panel will interact as required with First Nations, fishing sector or other public interests.
Outcomes
• The panel’s recommendations will form an important source of input to the management agencies as they consider changes to the conduct and governance of the Skeena fishery.
• The SISRP will produce a report and communicate the outcome to the public.
• While SISRP will inform the process they will not determine it. A watershed participant process will be convened to discuss these findings and implications for the future structure and conduct of the fishery.
• The federal and provincial governments will set the terms of reference for the watershed body after receiving the SISRP report.
Anticipated Benefits
• Pro-active response to climate change influences on salmon assessments and management planning,
• Example of effective WSP implementation,
• Furthering a positive Federal - Provincial relationship,
• Potential consultative/negotiated solutions to certain contentious issues with Skeena fisheries,
• A stable base for sustainable resource management involving First Nations and recreational and commercial groups.
• Satisfying the conditions of MSC certification.
Term
• The initial term of the panel will be 6 months, roughly divided into 4 months for deliberation and recommendation development, and 2 months for discussion with watershed process. The panel will meet 3-4 times to review data, deliberate, and prepare written recommendations in the January-April period, and may hold additional meetings in the Skeena watershed during the development and following the release of their review to communicate with interested participants.
Appendix A
Draft Questions for the Skeena Independent Science Review Panel
1) Is the existing management and assessment framework sufficient in order to implement the principles of the WSP for salmon and the equivalent principles for steelhead, and if not, what management and assessment framework could achieve these principles?
o Review existing in-season management and assessment tools (including, but not limited to, the Skeena management model) and offer suggestions for improvement.
o Suggest how risks (including climate change and management uncertainty) could be formally incorporated into the analysis to allow decision makers to implement a precautionary approach?
o What additional research and monitoring would you recommend to support conservation of wild Pacific salmon (including steelhead) in the Skeena River basin?
o How can the long term prospects for recovery of depleted stocks be addressed within the management and stock assessment framework?
2) Is there an adequate information basis (including stock assessment and in-season management data) for conservation of the stock complex (multiple species, multiple populations within species) within the Skeena River basin?
o Given existing information, what is the status of the stocks (CUs / populations as appropriate)? If information is insufficient, what research is needed to address these gaps?
o Identify and where possible quantify the major sources of fishing-related mortality.
3) Recognising the critical linkage between Skeena salmon habitat and long term resource sustainability there were two additional ‘questions’ discussed with the science panel at their initial planning session. Review habitat assessment tools used in the Skeena watershed and offer suggestions for improvements.Given the existing information, what is the status of habitat and ecosystem function in the Skeena? If information is insufficient what research is needed to address these gaps.
o After discussing with the panel, the broader aspects of the habitat questions are beyond the scope of the initial science review but need be addressed as part of the broader context of the Skeena salmon review.
o In this review, if the panel identifies immediate issues with stock sustainability that are related to habitat that they will be identified.