Some of the past and current collaborations we support.

Area 23 Salmon Harvest Roundtable

  • The Area 23 Salmon Harvest Roundtable (or Area 23 Harvest Committee) brings together all fisheries managers and harvesters in Barkley Sound, including Fisheries and Oceans Canada, First Nations, commercial, and recreational representatives, to make collective decisions that ensure salmon population sustainability while maximizing fishing opportunity for each sector. The roundtable makes a pre-season fishing plan based on biological forecasts, meets weekly during the fishing season to adapt to current conditions, and reconvenes after the season to review and reflect on how well the roundtable was able to meet its goals. Decisions made at the roundtable are formal advice to Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The table has forged collective ownership over fishery decision-making in the area, building trust and leading to sustainable, durable fishing opportunities. 

    West Coast Aquatic supports roundtable design, governance, and operations – facilitating meetings, guiding consensus-based decision, and helping resolve conflicts. We also oversee fundraising and disbursement of the roundtable’s stewardship fund that supports educational and habitat restoration projects in Barkley Sound. 

Yukon River Chinook Rebuilding Strategy

  • The Yukon River Chinook Salmon Rebuilding and Ecosystem Strategy was developed through a three-year collaborative process involving Yukon First Nations Governments, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Government of Yukon, Council of Yukon First Nations/Yukon First Nations Salmon Stewardship Alliance, and the Yukon Salmon Sub-Committee as well as key knowledge holders from across the watershed. Yukon River Chinook salmon have historically faced high levels of fishing and continue to face risks from human activity and climate change, leading to major conservation concern about the population’s continued existence in the watershed. The Rebuilding Strategy exists to articulate common objectives for rebuilding the population to a healthy state and identifies actions to advance those objectives. The Rebuilding Strategy also identifies indicators to enable evaluation of progress and updating of the Rebuilding Strategy as needed. 

    West Coast Aquatic worked with those involved to co-design, coordinate, and manage a three-year collaborative process for this project, including the development of a comprehensive review of scientific and Indigenous knowledge on issues facing Yukon River Chinook. Our work has encompassed strategy development workshops, a project steering committee, Action While Planning Working Groups, and a peer-reviewed Issues Facing Salmon report. 

B.C. Coastal Marine Strategy

  • The Coastal Marine Strategy is a BC Government policy that articulates a vision, values, priorities, and actions for the coastal marine environment that will guide decisions over the next 20 years. Recognizing the shared responsibility for coastal areas, the strategy was co-developed over two years by First Nations governments and BC’s Ministry of Lands, Waters and Resource Stewardship. The process involved engagement with both leadership and technical staff, along with a comprehensive co-writing and review process.

    West Coast Aquatic supported the process by working closely with the Ministry of Lands, Waters and Resource Stewardship and the First Nations Fisheries Council of BC to advise on collaborative process design, facilitate workshops, and analyze and communicate engagement outcomes. 

Genome BC Strategic Planning

  • Genome BC is a funding organization leading academia, government, and industry to develop world-class genome sciences that deliver social and economic benefits to British Columbia, Canada, and beyond. In 2022, they chose to hold their annual board retreat on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, in a Nuu-chah-nulth First Nation community to focus conversation on improving engagement with BC First Nations in relation to climate change and natural resources initiatives. 

    West Coast Aquatic organized hosting the group in a local community space and facilitated discussion sessions intended to inform the board’s strategic plan. 

    • BC Coastal Marine Strategy (BC Ministry of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship) 

    • BC Watershed Security Strategy (Multi-Ministry) via First Nations Water Caucus and BC Water Table

    • Pacific Offshore Marine Protected Area (Nuu-chah-nulth, DFO) 

    • Southern Resident Killer Whale management measures (DFO) 

    • Wild Salmon Policy Implementation (DFO) 

    • Kanaka Creek and Salmon River Coho Risk Assessments (Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance) 

    • Lake Babine Wild Sockeye Rebuilding (DFO, Lake Babine Nation)

    • Nanaimo River Risk Assessment (DFO) 

    • Nanaimo Summer Chinook Rebuilding (DFO, Snuneymuxw First Nation)

    • Okanagan Chinook Mitigation (Okanagan Nation Alliance, DFO) 

    • Puntledge Summer Chinook Risk Assessment (K’omoks First Nation, DFO) 

    • WCVI Chinook Rebuilding Plan and Implementation (DFO, Nuu-chah-nulth Nations) 

    • Yukon River Chinook Salmon Rebuilding Plan (DFO)

    • Area Based Aquaculture Management Technical Working Group (DFO) 

    • Area Based Aquaculture Management Pilot for Baynes Sound (K’omoks First Nation, DFO) 

    • BC Water Table (Government of British Columbia, First Nations Fisheries Council of BC) 

    • FNFC Salmon Coordinating Committee (First Nations Fisheries Council of BC) 

    • FNFC Aquaculture Coordinating Committee (First Nations Fisheries Council of BC) 

    • Fisheries Resources Reconciliation Agreement Implementation (Coastal First Nations, DFO) 

    • Fraser Forum Renewal (Fraser Salmon Management Council) 

    • Pacific Salmon Action Dialogue Series (First Nations Fisheries Council, Pacific Salmon Foundation) 

    • Saanich Inlet Forum (BC, Tsartlip First Nation, Tseycum First Nation, Malahat First Nation, Pauquachin First Nation, Tsawout First Nation).

    • Somass Estuary Action Plan (DFO, Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, Hupacasath First Nation, Tseshaht First Nation, City of Port Alberni, the Port Alberni Port Authority, and local agricultural and industry representatives)

    • Southern BC Chinook Committee (DFO) 

    • Synthesis Summary of closing conference (International Year of the Salmon) 

    • Central Coast Salmon Gathering (Central Coast Indigenous Resource Alliance, DFO)

    • Commercial Fishing Enterprises Gathering (Commercial Fishing Enterprise managers and Business Development Team)

    • DFO Stock Assessment Retreat (DFO) 

    • Ditidaht Fisheries Governance Workshop (Ditidaht, DFO)

    • Genome BC Board Retreat (Genome BC) 

    • IMAWG Reconciliation Workshops (IMAWG, DFO) 

    • IMAWG Strategic Planning (IMAWG, DFO) 

    • Nanaimo River Watershed Strategic Planning (Nanaimo River Watershed Roundtable) 

    • NVI Fisheries Economy Workshop (Marine Plan Partnership) 

    • Redd Fish Strategic Planning (Redd Fish Restoration Society) 

    • RiverStyles Educational Workshop (Macquarie University, DFO, Redd Fish Restoration Society)

Let's Work Together