bedford institute of oceanography 2001 in review - Région des ...

Cross CuttingIssuesPartnering between First Nations and DFO Science and Oceansand Environment Branches- K. Paul, R. Lavoie, and T. L. MarshallThe Marshall decision of 1999 brought significant changes to theAtlantic fishery and to DFO’s relationship with First Nations. DFOScience has a long history of working with First Nations; in 2001 therewas an enhancement of cooperative activities, particularly on CapeBreton Island.The Eskasoni Fish and Wildlife Commission (EF&WC) is locatedin the Mi’kmaw community of Eskasoni, Nova Scotia, on the shores ofthe Bras d’Or Lakes. The EF&WC is a Native-run, non-profit organizationthat deals with environmental and scientific issues that affectthe entire Bras d’Or Lakes watershed. Over the past decade, EF&WChas developed a good working relationship with DFO Science at BIOand has collaborated on issues concerning the health of the Bras d’OrLakes ecosystem. Earlier projects in this area include water testing, andfisheries studies.In the early 1960s, the Gillis Cove Oyster Culture Station was setup to study the reproduction of the American oyster and to developtechniques to grow high quality oysters from seed to market size.Since the mid-1990s, a joint project run by an Aboriginal biologist hasused the station to experiment with new techniques and to trainyoung Natives in the production of seed oysters.With the Union of Nova Scotia Indians, the EF&WC recentlyincorporated the Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources (UINR) todeal with the environmental issues and scientific opportunities forthe Native communities in Nova Scotia. Memoranda ofUnderstanding (MOUs) were signed between DFO and the UINRfor the use of the CCG research vessel Navicula for data collection,collaboration on scientific research, cross training for DFO andEF&WC staff, sharing of lab facilities, staff exchanges, and informationsharing on the Bras d’Or Lakes ecosystem. A second MOU isready for signing in 2002.DFO Science launched an initiative called SIMBOL (Science forIntegrated Management of the Bras d’Or Lakes) to address stakeholderconcerns identified at a Bras d’Or Lakes Ecosystem Workshopheld at the Canadian Coast Guard College in October 1999. A moreCharlie Joe Dennis being presented with the DFO Deputy Minister’s Certificate ofRecognition for his extensive work with DFO on preserving and developing therenewable natural resources of the Bras d’Or Lakes. (left to right) Kenneth Paul,Diana Denny, René Lavoie, Charlie Joe Dennis, Shelley Denny and Mike Sinclair –photo by George Paul.detailed article on SIMBOL is contained later in this section of thereport. Now in its second year, SIMBOL has enabled:• historical data rescue,••••••benthic habitat mapping,deployment of moorings to monitor winter processes,satellite data extraction,DFO and Environment Canada water quality monitoring,surveys of green crab distribution, anddata collection using CASI (Compact AirborneSpectrographic Imager).During the winter and spring of 2001, the regional DFO Science and34 / BIO-2001 IN REVIEW