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: Dianne Ramage
Area: Lower Fraser North Side
Community Advisor: Maurice Coulter-Boisvert
Date: November 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: Cohen Commission Report Released Implementation Habitat Protection and Enforcement Stock Assessment Salmon Enhancement |
All support the Cohen Commission Review and strongly urge the Prime Minister to implement the 75 Recommendations All are concerned about the changes to Fisheries Act, CEAA and the 1986 Habitat Policy and other environmental regulations in the Federal Budget Implementation Acts C-38 2012, C-45 2012 and C-10 2009 |
More protest marches outside of Conservative MPs offices, attendance at the protest in Victoria organized by LEADNOW.ca, many groups have written and signed petitions to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, The Prime Minister, the Auditor General, the Governor General, their MPs, local newspapers |
Send a letter to Prime Minster urging him to implement the 75 Cohen Commission Recommendations Continue to act as a conduit for information Keep sight of good things also happening
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Pacific Aquaculture Policy and SEP: Annual License/ Permit Review/Pilots Survey |
3 groups piloting holding PAR Licence: Thorton Creek, Chapman Creek and Oona River
Some groups also piloting the use of the BMPs and providing feedback to Region |
DFO continues to hold the PAR Licenses, this is great news to the community |
SEHAB to organize a meeting of all PIP and CEDP reps with National Aquaculture DM , legal counsel and Regional Staff in time to report out at the SEP workshop and prior to re-licensing 2013 |
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Capacity and Funding Core Funding Project Funding Capacity |
Many groups receiving project grants from local business and organizations Loss of Fisheries Offices, and DFO capacity to act on habitat issues still the responsibility of DFO |
5 C&P Offices to be closed, 22 C&P given deployment letters |
Ensure groups monitor and create good stream baselines with Module 1-4+7& 11 so damage can be documented and recorded Continue to act as a conduit for information |
SEHAB Submissions, Comments from Groups:
Interview with Maurice Coulter Boisvert, Community Advisor North side of Fraser, Lower Fraser Area
Chum confirmed by city of Burnaby in Buckingham Creek Upstream of Burnaby Lake, not often documented since 1960 when Highway One was built. Due to new fish way at Cariboo Dam, done without being compelled by Metro Vancouver, more chum can make it up stream past dam
Exceptionally strong chum return to lower Fraser, coho just beginning to come in, not a pink year though a few returned to the Coquitlam as they have in even years in the past
Habitat restoration projects : Many Collaborative projects completed this summer:
Eagle Creek rearing pond upstream of the now navigable Lougheed highway
Stoney Creek modification of existing project complete with valve to control inflow and outflow and upstream combination of shallow riffle weir and creation of a pool and riffle sequence in an area that was bedrock controlled
Upper Coquitlam - Orr Creek new intake for existing habitat complex on Orr Creek and addition of stabilizing weir to improve flows to a side channel important for the hatchery operations
PoCo Hatchery Completion of a new roof at AL Griss Memorial Hatchery run by PCDHFC
Sadly almost all of the 15,000 adipose fin clipped coho smolts at PoCo hunting AL Griss Hatchery were lost due to water supersaturation after the water line was voluntarily and for free replaced by Metro Vancouver
River Springs retrofit and mold remediation of hatchery is now completed compact incubation recirculating system
Hyde Creek fundraising for drilling of new well almost complete. Well development expected to occur later this year
Kanaka Creek Bell Irving Hatchery has been demolished, Bids are coming in for the reconstruction of the hatchery portion, Temporary incubation facilities have been installed in the pump control shed using the newly developed and tested compact incubation recirculating system.
Completion of the hatchery portion is expected to be done by summer 2013.
From Local Groups: Thanks for this - much appreciated
BC Hydro Fish Passage: Coquitlam Sockeye Reintroduction: BC hydro change in funding, support and process has stalled the Sockeye reintroduction program in year 9 of a 10 year initiative
Kwikwetlem FN has sent letter to BC Hydro expressing their concern about this change without consultation
Okanogan Nation and Interior groups are also sending letters to BC hydro as their process has also changed/been hijacked
Inventions: Compact incubation recirculating system developed by Maurice Coulter Boisvert is a success at PoCo Hatchery and at River Springs
CA Retirement: Joe Kambeitz retired this summer and is being replaced on a temporary basis pending restructuring resulting from changes at federal regulatory level
DFO Lower Fraser has a new area director arriving from eastern Canada where he served the minister as the Director of Aquaculture Management, welcome Gilles Verret
Silverdale wetland and creek additional habitat works were completed on the Silverdale wetlands; however, a developer has received permits to encroach on the wetland despite opposition of senior DFO area habitat staff. This development permit was facilitated by the developer's MP Randy Kamp Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and for the Asia-Pacific Gateway
Chum Returns best in 4-5 years
Cohen Commission Report: Groups trying to work through the body of the report most started with Section 3 and support all the recommendations and want them implemented as recommended.