National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
West Coast conservation groups are worried Ottawa is backtracking on a recent commitment to close the bulk of commercial salmon fisheries as a radical measure to save endangered stocks.
Continue reading Is Ottawa breaking its promise to close fisheries and protect wild salmon?qathet Living, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Tla’amin Oyster plant in Okeover went through a major underwater clean up by the Deep-Search Diving team, led by Director, Dylan Smith. This project took place throughout the month of July and has resulted in a cleaner sea. The cleanup was funded by Shellfish Farm Environmental Plan (SHEP), a new program launched by the BC Shellfish Growers Association (BCSGA). SHEP requires sites to be kept much cleaner than what they have previously been, to protect the environment and wildlife. Other shellfish plants and farms will undergo the same
clean up.
Windspeaker, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
“It’s just frustrating, very maddening, you know, that this is how DFO always operates. We’ve never had a really good fisheries minister response to the work that we’re doing.” — Kekinusuqs, Dr. Judith Sayers, president of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council
The lack of good faith negotiations by Fisheries and Oceans Canada in its dealing with five First Nations on the West Coast could result in the criminalization of Nuu-chah-nulth fishers who exercise their court-affirmed right to a commercial fishery, asserts First Nations leadership.
Continue reading Bad faith, beads and trinkets negotiations by DFO obstructs court-affirmed fishery, says First Nationsquathet Living, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Tla’amin Nation has owned tenures in the Okeover and Theodosia areas for over 45 years and the business arm, Tla’amin Management Services LP, re-entered the aquaculture business in 2018. Its main operations, under Pa’aje Shellfish LP, are in the toxʷnač (Okeover) area which contains an astonishing 12 acres – one of the biggest in the area.
Continue reading New, lucrative First Nations oyster farm a sign of good things to comeCKTZ News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
While the many legged Sunflower Sea Star is now nearly extinct in most of the United States, there is still hope it may survive in British Columbia. Researchers have seen signs of recovery in a few areas, including the Discovery Islands, despite the threats to the marine population.
Continue reading UBC researcher says there’s hope for the Sunflower Sea Star
