Case History of the Skeena Fisheries Commission: Developing Aboriginal Fishery Management Capacity in

• Main Authors: Northern British Columbia, Allen Gottesfeld, Chris Barnes, Cristina Soto
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Gitanyow; Pacific; Skeena; Skeena River; First Nations; Tsimshian; Tsimshian*
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.465.6508; http://skeenafisheries.ca/pdfs/pub_gottesfeld_etal_2009_casehist.pdf

Abstract.—Pacific salmon are important to the First Nations of the Skeena River wa-tershed in British Columbia. The Skeena Fisheries Commission (SFC) was formed in 1985 through a memorandum of understanding between the watershed’s five First Nations: Tsimshian, Gitxsan, Gitanyow, Wet’suwet’en, and Lake Babine. SFC fo-cuses on salmon management, research, and conservation through governance and technical committees. This paper describes the development of fishery management capacity of SFC within the context of the cultural importance of salmon, the history of salmon management measures, and land claims. Capacity is analyzed in terms of the ability to perform eight management functions: policy making, negotiation and resource planning; stock assessment; fishery monitoring; enforcement and compli-ance; research, habitat and enhancement activities; data gathering and analysis for resource planning; creating benefits for fishermen and communities; and training and education. Policy making, negotiating, and planning occur between SFC and the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) through formal and informal consultations and monthly technical meetings. SFC also participates in committees