Fish

haida fisheries programs

The Haida Fisheries Program has two office - one in Skidegate and one in
Massett. Its mandate is to take a lead role in the development of fisheries
policy and management affecting Haida Gwaii, consider all fisheries and
marine issues, and provide advice to the Council of the Haida Nation about
political or other actions. The Program assesses and reviews all commercial
and recreational fisheries including annual and long-term management plans,
policies and regulations of federal and provincial governments, inclusive of
environmental and habitat protection. It also assesses resource development
plans affecting fisheries resources and freshwater and marine environments.
A priority for the Haida Fisheries Program and the CHN Fisheries Committee
is the protection of the Aboriginal rights and title of Haida people, particularly
related to fisheries and marine resources.

PALLANT CREEK HATCHERY
Pallant Creek hatchery has been operated by Haida Fisheries Program since
December 1998 and provides approximately 9 person-years of Haida
employment. HFP has made significant advances since 1998 including
doubling of chum salmon production capacity from 15 to 30 million fry and
implementation of a coho smolt program at Mosquito Lake with a production
capacity of 1.1 million smolts.

DFO approved a pilot cost recovery fishery in Cumshewa Inlet in September
2001 in which a portion of the returns are taken and sold to offset a portion of
hatchery operating costs. The North Coast Advisory Board and Haida Tribal
Society committed to a seven-year business plan for the hatchery in 2002
recognizing the long-term nature of the investment and that ups and downs
would occur in fish returns. The cost recovery pilot plan was the first of its
kind in Canada and is now in its seventh year.

PALLANT HATCHERY CONTACT
Box 225 Sandspit V0T 1T0
p. 403-997-0438 or 559-8695

Anita Moody - Management Trainee
David Helmer - Head Fish Culturist
John Daschuk - Assistant Fish Culturist
Godfrey Williams - Assistant Fish Culturist

HAIDA FISHERIES GUARDIANS
The guardians work consists of monitoring, assessment and enforcement
work; below are a few examples of the projects they are involved in. For
more specific information on projects please see the Quarterly
Updates below.

INTEGRATED MARINE USE PLANNING
An Integrated Marine Use Plan (IMUP) is currently under development and
is being administered by the Haida Fisheries Program. The IMUP process
is supported by the Haida Oceans Technical Team comprised of Russ
Jones (Project Manager), Cathy Rigg (Socio-Economic Planner) and Lynn
Lee (Biologist/Planner).

HAIDA GWAII RECREATIONAL FISHERY
MONITORING PROGRAM
Since 1995 Haida Fisheries Program (HFP) has monitored the recreational
fishery on Haida Gwaii using a standardized creel census design provided
by LGL Environmental Research Associates. Estimates of retained catch
as well as released fish are generated monthly and the information is vital
to HFP, DFO and other stakeholders in the development of management
plans for passing salmon stocks and to monitor trends in exploitation of
groundfish species.

Surveys currently cover Massett Inlet, Naden Harbour, Langara
Island, Skidegate Inlet, Cartwright Sound and Rennel Sound areas. The
program provides employment for eight Haidas from May to September each
year. Field camps are maintained at Skaos in Naden Harbour and Kiusta near
Kiis Gwaii to provide accommodation for monitors covering these high
effort areas.

Recreational fishing effort is estimated using standardized boat counts
carried out from boats and/or aircraft and the catch is determined through
point of access angler interviews. Creel monitors also collect size and age
data from coho and chinook salmon as well as halibut, lingcod, and rockfish
species sampled from the recreational catch. Creel survey estimates
are forwarded to DFO on a monthly schedule

ABALONE STEWARDSHIP
Haida Fisheries Program is leading efforts to rebuild abalone populations
around Haida Gwaii with funding from Environment Canada and support of
DFO and Parks Canada. A Community Action Plan was completed in April
2002 with several community partners including DFO, Environment Canada,
Laskeek Bay Conservation Society, Gwaii Haanas, World Wildlife Fund,
Skidegate band Council and Old Massett Village Council. The Action Plan
establishes two abalone stewardship areas in Juan Perez Sound and the area
from Naden Harbour to Langara Island. These areas have been the focus of
dive surveys and monitoring of abalone populations by HFP dive teams over
the past few years. As well a closure of the commercial red sea urchin fishery
has been requested in upper Juan Perez Sound. A working group has been
meeting regularly to plan activities. Activities focus on rebuilding abalone in
the stewardship areas through conservation education, applied research, a
local Coastwatch program, increased enforcement and dialogue about local
ood harvesting.

ABORIGINAL FISHERIES STARTEGY PROJECT

SALMON
Sockeye Smolt Sampling
Traditional River Fishery Monitoring
Copper River Counting Fence
Sockeye Lake Surveys
Escapement Monitoring
Yakoun River Counting Fence
Ain River Sockeye Rebuilding
Pallant Creek Operations and Monitoring
Coho AUC escapement
Recreational Fishery Monitoring
Watchman Program (Includes Naden & Kiis Gwaii Creel Surveys)
Skidegate & Massett Inlet Creel surveys
Commercial Fishery Monitoring (Guardians)
Terminal Fishery Management (Guardians)

HERRING
K'aaw (spawn-on-kelp) Monitoring
Herring Spawn Surveys/Overflights
Herring Management (Guardians)

SHELLFISH
Razor Clam Population Assessment
Razor Clam Creel Survey (Commercial and Recreational)
PSP Sampling
Sea Urchin Population Assessment
Abalone Stewardship and Population Assessments
Geoduck Survey
Shellfish Management (Guardians)