by Davic Wiwchar
Ha-Shilth-Sa Southern Region Reporter
June 19, 2003
Bamfield - The second leg of the World Summit on Salmon was in Bamfield, where many of the Vancouver conference participants came to see the issues they discussed in action.
21 scientists and researchers traveled to Port Alberni then on to Bamfield aboard the MV Lady Rose packet freighter. During the voyage, guests learned about local fisheries issues during a talk from Andrew Day, Executive Director of the West Coast Vancouver Island Aquatic Management Board (WCVI AMB). Using the NTC/WCVI AMB Aquatic Resources map as a basis for further discussion on salmon, halibut and shellfish issues, Day answered questions on a variety of local issues.
Ahousaht fisherman Errol Sam, a Nuu-chah-nulth AMB representative, spoke of the changes in the commercial fishing industry, and his families' connection to the industry. "I'm afraid I might be the last generation of my family to work in the commercial fishing industry," said Sam. "We've been salmon fishermen since the beginning of time, and I don't want to see that end with me."
Sam then spoke of the collective shareholder groups who belong to the WCVI AMB and the consensus-based approach based on the Nuu-chah-nulth beliefs of Hishuk iits'awak (everything is one) and iisaak (respect).
Fisheries and Oceans Canada South Coast area director Ron Kadowaki added to Sam's presentation at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, saying the WCVI AMB is about making the fishery and the fisheries economy sustainable for decades to come.
"The Aquatic Management Board is a new way of doing business. It's a way of including a much broader range of views in our management process," said Kadowaki. "We're going to have to look at managing our fishery from a local perspective with all user groups represented at the table."
"Does anyone in New York or Toronto care about the things happening in Bamfield or Ahousaht?" asked Wilf Caron from the Area G Troller's Association. "We want to be able to make recommendations to the federal fisheries minister in the hopes we can have a voice in making our lives better," he said. "This is not a pilot project anymore," added Maureen Sager from the Alberni Environmental Coallition and WCVI AMB. "This is forever now."
Huu-ay-aht Fisheries Manager Stefan Ochman then took the delegates on a tour of Huu-ay-aht fisheries restoration projects including the Sarita River side channel. In the evening, the Huu-ay-aht Nation hosted a seafood feast and cultural display at their longhouse community centre.
Conference delegates marvelled at the huge beams of the House of Huu-ay-aht while they feasted on salmon, halibut, crabs and clams, listening to and watching Robert Dennis Jr. leading a group of young Huu-ay-aht singers and dancers.
The next day of the World Summit on Salmon Satellite Conference started with a trip aboard a troller to see how the troll fishermen catch salmon in a sustainable manner. Delegates from Japan were particularly impressed as they have only a set-net fishery in most Asian countries. The afternoon was then spent pursuing a wide variety of local recreational activities such as kayaking, whale watching, fishing or hiking along the Bamfield boardwalk and Brady's Beach.
The satellite conference then shifted to the Future Sea closed-containment fish farm experimental site at the Pacific Biological Station in Nanaimo on Monday before delegates returned to Vancouver to board their flights back to their corners of the world.
WCVI Satellite Conference
organizer Cathy Burkowski was congratulated for putting the event together,
and thanked for organizing the many activities delegates had to choose
from.
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