by Deboroh Steel
Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter
Nov. 30, 2006
Hupacasath - Corporate disregard
for the habitat, provincial disinterest in the habitat protection debate
and bureaucratic apathy in Ottawa in regard to Valley habitat protection
efforts were all topics to be bounced around the discussion table at the
West Coast Vancouver Island (WCVI) Salmon Summit held at the House of
Gathering on Nov. 22 and 23.
After listening to presentations on the state of the salmon stock in British Columbia, and in particular, on the west coast of Vancouver Island, participants attending Day One of the summit met for round-rable discussions where the talk was wide-ranging and spirited.
Issues on the minds of many included the lack of protection measures for habitat in the development of private lands, a particularly hot topic after the wild winter storm that blew through the valley Nov. 15. Environmentalists around the table blamed logging practises for the extensive damage caused during the storm to sensitive creeks and streams running through the area, for turning the water in them to the colour of milk chocolate and endangering the health of the fish that travel them.
Archie Little, a Nuu-chah-nulth representative in attendance, said it was time forest companies were at the habitat protection table because what happens at the top of the mountain affects life at the bottom and they must be held accountable. But the consensus of the participants was that little motivated the companies to become involved in improving forest harvesting practices or engaging local habitat protection groups, because the Fisheries Act didn't have the teeth to ensure environmental standards compliance.
"They know they are going to get away with it," said one participant about the enforcement around the Fisheries Act.
A DFO representative said that taking companies to court was expensive and ate up precious resources. Another said DFO was considering rating the offenses, and only pursuing action against the worst offenders.
There were a variety of perspectives as to how best to proceed to protect the salmon habitats and the stock. Some said efforts and funding should be concentrated on protecting significant areas or the ones with the greatest promise for survival, puting less effort towards the areas that were already too far gone.
That didn't sit well with some who believed the approach to protection had to be holistic, because the problems were system-wide and a selective approach was doomed to failure. Some complained that the province, despite having a profound effect on habitat with road construction and other infrastructure activities, is absent, while others insisted that the local community needed to be more vocal, putting public pressure on local politicians to get onside with protection efforts.
Another complaint was about the lack of funding being set aside for restoration.
"Enough of the limited resources [talk]," said one participant. He said what was needed was real committed stewardship.
There was a palpable frustration with Ottawa bureaucrats who didn't or wouldn't make decisions quickly enough to support local efforts.
Volunteers working on a variety of streams and creeks in the area said that apathy was killing theri spirit and causing many to pull away from local protection efforts.
Rounding
out the discussion was a request to DFO to provide support and back-up
for locals making efforts to improve habitats.
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