In a stunning reversal, the federal government caved in to Heiltsuk First Nation’s demands to close commercial fishing of herring near Bella Bella in northern B.C.
“It is confirmed. All commercial gill-netters are exiting Heiltsuk waters,” Heiltsuk First Nation councillor Jess Housty wrote on Facebook this afternoon. “They will be escorted by Heiltsuk patrol boats and we will continue to occupy DFO until they have exited our waters.”
The scene outside the DFO office on Denny Island, March 31, 2015, the third day the Heiltsuk occupied it.
“This victory belongs to the whole community. Grateful for our relatives from other Nations, our allies everywhere…And work is already beginning to ensure this issue is never pushed to such extremes again.”
The federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans had been in an intense negotiation with the Heiltsuk First Nation this week, as a Heiltsuk chief councillor and several others locked themselves in the DFO office on Denny Island to protest the controversial re-opening of a herring fishery, despite fierce First Nation opposition.
After initially declining an invitation to meet the Heiltsuk, DFO’s senior B.C. manager Sue Farlinger emerged after three hours of talks with leaders on Denny Island on Tuesday, saying she needed to check with Ottawa whether the fishery would close or remain open.
Outside the regional offices of DFO in Vancouver, March 31, 2015, the third day of protests and nightly camps in solidarity with the Heiltsuk.
Today, the First Nation community is in “high spirits” after the decision, Housty said.
“It’s a hard-won victory driven by the conviction of our whole Nation and all the allies who supported us,” Housty told The Vancouver Observer after the decision.
“The bottom line for us is that the stocks recover and someday thrive again. Today is an important step toward that goal and I think we’ve shown industry and DFO very clearly that Heiltsuk will not back down from our vision for healthy herring into the future.”
The re-opening of the herring fishery last year sparked controversy, as leaked emails revealed that government scientists had recommended that the fishery remain closed.
Vancouver police using a bolt-cutter to remove a bike U-lock that had been attached to the doors of the building, March 31, 2015.
“For the three [herring fishing] areas showing signs of recovery, it is recommended that they remain closed in 2014,” DFO scientists warned.
The e-mail became public during a recent and unsuccessful legal attempt by five coastal B.C. First Nations in federal court to close the fishery.
The DFO said its science was updated in 2015, and claim a limited catch is sustainable. DFO spokesperson Dan Bate issued the following statement:
“Science forecasts showed that the Pacific Herring stock abundance would support commercial harvest opportunities in the Central Coast of BC while meeting conservation objectives. Additional precaution was exercised in the Central Coast by setting catch levels at half the usual harvest rate of 20 per cent. The Department committed to providing harvest opportunities where they were possible.”
“DFO will continue to work closely with the Heiltsuk First Nation, other First Nations and industry representatives on herring management.”
http://www.vancouverobserver.com/news/breaking-heiltsuk-wins-herring-dispute-government-agrees-close-fishery
Heiltsuk First Nation claims victory over disputed herring fishery
MARK HUME. VANCOUVER — The Globe and Mail, April 1, 2015
A confrontation between the Heiltsuk First Nation and the federal government that threatened to erupt into a “war on the water” appears to have ended with the commercial fleet leaving the central coast, where the industry had been waiting for a disputed fishery to open.
“We’re pretty ecstatic here,” Carrie Humchitt, legal services co-ordinator for the Heiltsuk said Wednesday. “We’re just waiting for official confirmation, but we’ve received word through channels that all of the industry boats will be pulling out.”
She said the First Nation, which is based in Bella Bella, had given the federal department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) until noon to close the waters of the central coast to the commercial gill net fleet, which had been waiting for nearly a week to fish for an allocated harvest of 600 tonnes of herring.
DFO spokesman Dan Bate said in an e-mail that the central coast herring fishery is now closed and the government is working with First Nations on herring management.
Ian McAllister of Pacific Wild, an environmental group that has been monitoring the fishery, said commercial boats began leaving the area Wednesday afternoon.
“It looks like the fleet has packed up and is going south empty,” he said.
Ms. Humchitt said Heiltsuk members were preparing to go out on the water to blockade the herring fleet when the band made “an 11th hour attempt at resolution,” asking DFO to shut down the central-coast fishery and agree to hold talks to avoid another confrontation next year.
“We’ve let industry know that there’s going to be a war on the water should they try to come in to Heiltsuk territory,” she said.
Chief Marilyn Slett, who for the past four days occupied the DFO regional office near Bella Bella, said it has been a stressful week of protests and tense negotiations.
Heiltsuk members took to their boats last week in an unsuccessful attempt to stop the seine fleet from harvesting herring during a limited opening that was called with little notice. By the time the native protesters arrived on the fishing grounds, the seine fleet had harvested about 700 tonnes of herring. The gill-net fleet, which uses different methods, was standing by for its chance.
“It’s been an emotional few days,” said Chief Slett.
She said she and a colleague occupied the DFO offices while up to 150 people camped outside. Some aboriginal protesters also showed up outside DFO’s main office in Vancouver on Tuesday.
“It’s unfortunate it had to get to this point,” Chief Slett said of the protests. At the heart of the issue is a dispute between First Nations and DFO over the accuracy of stock assessments.
The Heiltsuk on the central coast, the Haida in Haida Gwaii, and the Nuu-chah-nulth on the West Coast of Vancouver Island have all expressed opposition to herring fisheries in their areas, saying the stocks are much smaller than DFO claims. The Nuu-chah-nulth failed in an attempt to get a court order to stop the fishery in their area, while the Haida worked out an agreement to keep Haida Gwaii closed.
Gregory Thomas, chair of the Herring Industry Advisory Board, said commercial fishermen believe DFO’s stock assessments are valid.
“The First Nations … say there isn’t enough fish and that any commercial roe herring fishery will negatively impact their [native] fishery,” said Mr. Thomas. “The industry view is there’s a lot of science behind the current stock assessment and that that science has indicated there is a reasonable return of herring on the central coast – and certainly a fishable abundance.”
Mr. Thomas said it is difficult to calculate the economic impact of losing a fishing opportunity on the central coast, but it’s considerable.
“The gill net target is 600 tonnes and as of this morning there has been no catch. That’s a significant amount of herring,” he said.
Herring are fished on the B.C. coast in February and March, when they gather to spawn. The roe, or eggs, of the small fish are largely sold on the Asian market.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/heiltsuk-first-nation-claims-victory-over-disputed-herring-fishery/article23757390/
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