Provincial Perspective: British Columbia’s Ocean and Marine Fisheries Resources

1. Provincial Perspective: British Columbia’s Ocean and Marine Fisheries Resources Ministry of Environment Presentation for the BC Seafood Alliance Summit – IV Bud Graham, ADMOceans and Marine Fisheries Division November 1, 2005

2. Industry Profile • Value to BC’s economy • People employed in fulltime/ part-time positions • Distribution of employment $1.9 billion(2001, all four sectors) >30,000

3. Freshwater Recreational Fishing $334M Commercial Fishing $358M Marine Recreational Fishing $341M Finfish Aquaculture $269M Shellfish Aquaculture $17M Fisheries & Aquaculture Processing $602M Fisheries Sectors - Revenue Fisheries Sector Revenues (2001)

4. 2005 Throne Speech Commitment “To lead the world in sustainable environmental management, with the best air and water quality, and the best fisheries management, bar none.” GREAT GOALS FOR A GOLDEN DECADE Throne Speech February 8, 2005

5. Government Goals and Objectives “Golden Decade” Goals Relevant to Fisheries ► To lead the world in sustainable environmental management, with the best air and water quality, and the best fisheries management, bar none ► To create more jobs per capita than anywhere else in Canada Provincial Objectives for BC Marine Fisheries ► Protect and enhance the viability of wild fish stocks and their economic, social and environmental benefits to British Columbians ► Increase public confidence in fisheries management ► Enhance the economic, social and environmental sustainability of wild and farmed fisheries for coastal and inland communities

6. Strategic Context: Past Experiences • Global fisheries markets are changing rapidly • Federal and provincial oceans and fisheries initiatives have not been well coordinated • BC’s interests have been pursued on a sector-by-sector basis without an overall strategic context • BC has lacked comprehensive fisheries and oceans strategies and a program focus • Success in advancing provincial fisheries objectives with Canada has been mixed • Relationships with DFO and other federal agencies have often been strained • More structure and discipline in the federal/provincial relationship is needed

7. Benefits to British Columbians 2. Prosperous Fisheries Founded on Economic Stability 1. Abundant and Healthy Wild Fish Populations Supporting commercial and recreational sector development Protecting and conserving wild fish and habitats Shared stewardship and awareness Improving business climate 3. World-Class Fisheries Management Transparent, accountable and effective decision-making Effective management partnerships Excellence in information and science BC Fisheries Strategy Framework: Goals

8. GOAL 1 OBJECTIVES BC Fisheries Strategy Framework Protecting and Conserving Wild Fish and Habitats Abundant and healthy fish populations Shared Stewardship and Awareness

9. GOAL 2 OBJECTIVES BC Fisheries Strategy Framework Supporting commercial and recreational sector development Prosperous fisheries founded on economic stability Improving business climate

10. GOAL 3 OBJECTIVES BC Fisheries Strategy Framework Transparent, accountable and effective decision-making Effective management partnerships Effective, collaborative federal provincial partnership World-class fisheries management Maximize BC participation in fishery management and development Strengthened and renewed First Nations partnership Excellence in information and science

11. Federal - Provincial Coordination Pacific Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers (PCFAM) Pacific Fisheries & Aquaculture Committee Working Group (PFAC-WG) Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers (CCFAM) Sub-Committees Fisheries Management Oceans Recent Auditor General’s report of provincial salmon programs highlights the need for close co-operation and common vision between governments Aquatic Habitat Aquaculture

12. MoE BC’s Fisheries Roles and Responsibilities • Ministry of Environment • Lead Provincial agency for BC’s interests in fisheries • Oceans Management Strategy and oceans policy • Influence over federal management of commercial and marine recreational fisheries • Seafood industry development • Freshwater fisheries management and development • Delegated authority for freshwater angling regulation • Aquatic habitat management, including protection, restoration and instream flow management • Living Rivers Trust Fund • Water stewardship and allocation under the Water Act MAL

13. MAL BC’s Fisheries Roles and Responsibilities • Ministry of Agriculture and Lands • Aquaculture (finfish and shellfish) industry development • Aquaculture and seafood processing licensing, monitoring, and compliance • Food industry development • Food trade policy and marketing • Food safety and policy • Integrated Land Management Bureau • Strategic land use planning including coastal and marine planning • Resource-information services (including FishInfo BC) • Tenuring of Crown lands MoE

14. Oceans and Marine Fisheries Division • Establishes MoE as the lead for fisheries and seafood development programs and lead agency for working with DFO • Incorporates marine fisheries management and seafood development responsibilities from the former MAFF • Provides leadership for the Provincial Strategic policy for Oceans and engagement with other levels of government and stakeholders

15. Proposed Division Organization ADM Oceans & Marine Fisheries Director Oceans & Marine Fisheries Ocean Resources Marine Fisheries Seafood Industry Development

16. Division Goal & Objectives Goal Sustainable management and development of British Columbia’s ocean resources and marine fisheries in a manner that protects the health of the environment and supports a thriving economy Objectives • Facilitate sustainable management and development of ocean resources • Influence federal management of Pacific fisheries to ensure that provincial objectives are reflected through collaborative decision-making processes • Encourage the development of a growing, vibrant and sustainable seafood industry

17. Ocean Resources • Goal: Sustainable and collaborative management and use of BC’s ocean resources • Key Strategies • Identify and advance provincial objectives as they relate to oceans resources and their use • Influence implementation of the federal Oceans Strategy on the Pacific coast by coordinating the development and implementation of the six sub-agreements to the Canada/BC Memorandum of Understanding (2004) • Develop, with the federal government, a shared governance framework for oceans management • Move forward with a joint system of Marine Protected Areas on the Pacific coast of Canada

18. Marine Fisheries • Goal: Enhanced social, economic and environmental benefits from viable fisheries and the seafood industry • Key Strategies • Participate in the development and implementation of processes to ensure federal management and decision-making reflect provincial objectives for Pacific fisheries • Foster a positive business and investment climate • Facilitate integrated management approaches that promote collaboration and partnerships, and ready access to reliable information • Collaborate with provincial initiatives to promote productive fish habitat and water stewardship • Build and maintain international and intergovernmental relationships to address fisheries issues

19. Seafood Industry Development • Goal: Growth and diversification of a seafood sector that offers strong competition in global markets with a focus on environmentally-certified seafood products • Key Strategies • Increased access to markets through traceability of products, removal of non-tariff trade barriers, and increased participation in third-party certification processes • Encourage development of food safety and quality management systems • Facilitate investment and identify opportunities for industry diversification and innovation • Represent BC’s interest to ensure the seafood sector’s fair share of federal and cross-government programs, initiatives and activities to promote research, exports and investment

20. BC’s Fisheries and Oceans Priorities Pacific Fisheries Reform: moving forward with reforms to BC’s salmon industry Oceans MOU's and Oceans Action Plan: finalization of five of the six subsidiary MOU’s and collaborative development of Oceans Action Plan Phase 2 Fisheries Act Renewal: development of a new Fisheries Act incorporating BC recommendations Environmental Process Modernization Program and Canada/BC Habitat Action Plan: implementation of new results-based approaches National Aquaculture Framework Agreement Species at Risk Coordination: recovery plans for key salmon stocks and other species

21. 2005 Throne Speech Commitment “To lead the world in sustainable environmental management, with the best air and water quality, and the best fisheries management, bar none.” Government success in fulfilling the throne speech promise will be based on: • Shared vision • Strong leadership • Productive partnerships • Policy and program innovation