Projecting catch potential for British Columbia First Nations under climate change and fisheries management scenarios ...

• Main Author: Anyang, Adepa Akosua
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: University of British Columbia 2023
• Subjects: First Nations
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0437134; https://doi.library.ubc.ca/10.14288/1.0437134

Human activities, particularly climate change and over-exploitation, negatively impact marine biodiversity and seafood availability which is a source of food for many coastal communities to be negatively impacted. Coastal First Nations in British Columbia are inherently connected to marine life through fishing - thus, it's crucial to explore climate change and fisheries' effects on fish stocks. This study assessed the potential seafood availability from 24 marine species that are important for four First Nations in British Columbia: Skidegate, ‘Namgis, Tla’amin, and Nuxalk (Bella Coola). This study estimated that in 2018, the marine food harvest for the communities totaled approximately 28.3, 27.0, 27.9, and 19.0 tonnes, respectively. Using a Dynamic Bioclimate Envelope model, the study projected potential changes in seafood availability, for the four First Nations under climate change and fishing scenarios. Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka), chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), and eulachon ...