The Haida Nation

The Haida Nation maintain closure of the commercial herring fishery in its waters to allow time to address long-term management and conservation of herring stocks, a press release reads. The closure does not affect the traditional roe-on-kelp fishery. A letter to the nation from Fisheries and Oceans Canada shows the new federal government is onside with the plan.

“Based on science information and pre-season consultations… DFO is proposing a balanced, precautionary approach to harvest planning… Under the historic assessment methodology, both the West Coast of Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii are below commercial fishery cutoffs and are closed to commercial fisheries for 2015/16.”

Peter Lantin (traditional name kil tlaats ‘gaa), president of the Haida Nation, said they are pleased to see the government looking at herring stocks “in a way that is closer to our understanding of how the natural world works, calling the “new perspective” refreshing. He said the Haida Nation hopes to see this perspective applied to other fisheries and in government to government negotiations.