Fraser River Sockeye Fisheries and Fisheries Management - Cohen ...

Table 4 Summary of available information on accuracy, precision and reliability ofthe catch monitoring programs used to produce estimates of the harvest ofFraser sockeye for First Nations fisheries (2001-09).% of Quality of Catch EstimatesLocation Catch Accuracy Precision ReliabilityFSC FisheriesMarine Fisheries 24% Good Unknown MediumFraser - below Sawmill 36% Good Unknown MediumFraser - above Sawmill 24% Fair Unknown MediumEconomic Opportunity Fisheries 1 16% Good High GoodTotal 100% Good Unknown Medium1 ratings for 2004-09, ratings for 2001-03 would be lower for EO fisheriesFirst Nation FSC FisheriesManagement StructureSince the late 1800’s, when Canada asserted management control of Pacific coastfisheries, the ability of First Nations to harvest for ‘food’ purposes has been integral tothe overall fisheries management system (Ionson 2009). The Government of Canada’scurrent legal and policy framework identifies a special obligation to provide First Nationsthe opportunity to harvest fish for food, social, and ceremonial purposes. In 1992, theAboriginal Fisheries Strategy (AFS) was implemented to address several objectivesrelated to First Nations and their access to the resource in response to the Supreme Courtof Canada decision in R. v. Sparrow. These included:improving relations with First Nations;providing a framework for the management of the First Nations fishery in amanner that was consistent with the 1990 Supreme Court of Canada Sparrowdecision;greater involvement of First Nations in the management of fisheries; andincreased participation in commercial fisheries (Allocation Transfer Program orATP).AFS increased resources for First Nations to pursue capacity building in areas such asstock assessment, habitat assessment and rehabilitation, catch monitoring, and25