SALMON ENHANCEMENT AND HABIAT ADVISORY BOARD
SEHAB, The Voice of the Salmon Enhancement Program Volunteer
Roundtable
Our Vision: Pacific Region communities living sustainably within the natural limitations of healthy ecosystems supporting abundant and biologically diverse Pacific salmonids.
Our Mission: SEHAB C.A.R.E.S. SEHAB is the voice of the volunteer community dedicated to:
Communicating
Advocating
Representing
Educating, and
Supporting its endeavours.
SEHAB and the community have a shared commitment of ensuring functioning ecosystems supporting viable, genetically diverse and abundant indigenous fish populations.
Our partner, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)
DFO Vision: Excellence in service to Canadians to ensure the sustainable development and safe use of Canadian waters.
DFO Mission: It is our mission, as DFO employees, to deliver to Canadians the following outcomes:
- Safe and Accessible Waterways;
- Healthy and Productive Aquatic Ecosystems; and
- Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture.
In working toward these outcomes, the Department will be guided by the principles of sound scientific knowledge and effective management.
DFO Mandate, on behalf of the Government of Canada, DFO is responsible for developing and implementing policies and programs in support of Canada’s scientific, ecological, social and economic interests in oceans and fresh waters.
Salmonid Enhancement Program:
The Salmonid Enhancement Program (SEP) plays a key role in DFO's work to conserve and manage Pacific salmon stocks. The program's activities aim to rebuild vulnerable salmon stocks, provide harvest opportunities, work with First Nations and coastal communities in economic development, and improve fish habitat to sustain salmon populations. SEP broke new ground when it was launched in 1977 by working closely with citizens and schools to raise awareness of salmon conservation and to carry out hands-on community salmon enhancement and stewardship projects. Three of the program's main activities are:
SEHAB Member: Paul Cipywnyk representing Brian Smith
Area: Burrard Inlet, Indian Arm, Vancouver
Community Advisor: Sandie Hollick-Kenyon
Date: June 2012
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SEHAB Work Plan 2011-2012 |
Local Issue, Specific Examples |
Actions by Community or DFO |
SEHAB Opportunity |
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Wild Salmon Policy: 5 year Review Implementation Habitat Protection and Enforcement Stock Assessment and Salmon Enhancement |
General volunteer malaise – volunteers feel WSP has been abandoned, don’t see any support or direction going forward. Great concern among all groups regarding watering down of habitat protection by federal govt., and dramatic reduction of habitat staff and offices. |
Need leadership and funding from DFO to drive the WSP. Initial review documents are quite damning. This is a keystone policy that has been accepted by the dept., so why no funding or follow up? |
Generate publicity re WSP – perhaps make it topic of next Friday night forum. Contact MPs, MLAs, keep politician aware that they need to uphold commitments made in this policy document. |
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Pacific Aquaculture Policy and SEP: Annual License/ Permit Review Survey Resourcing |
Due to plenty of hard work by DFO staff, community and SEHAB, licensing issues are being sorted out. There is a sense of progress in this area |
As noted this is coming together. |
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Capacity and Funding Core Funding Project Funding Capacity |
Most volunteer groups struggle with these issues year after year. While PIP grants etc. help, they are small compared to overhead of running volunteer hatcheries and educational programs. |
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SEHAB Submissions, Comments from Groups:
The above information was gathered by word of mouth, speaking with volunteers as time allowed. No groups submitted written statements for this SEHAB round, perhaps because of the sense of disillusionment and burnout mentioned in the above comments.