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ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

© 2023 Mowachaht / Muchalaht First Nation / All Right Reserved. Created by Y5 Creative

Fisheries

FISHERIES

Welcome to MMFN's Fisheries Department

Welcome to MMFN’s Fisheries Program!

We actively engage in various seasonal activities to effectively manage our fisheries. During the late winter, our staff assess herring populations to collect age samples and report spawn locations and egg deposition. We collaborate closely with the DFO Stock Assessment and Uu-a-thluk to ensure accurate data.

Coast Guard

Our relationship with the Coast Guard has been
built upon the foundation laid during the Bligh
Island Oil Spill incident and the subsequent
construction of the Coast Guard Station.

During the oil recovery operation, the MMFN
chiefs worked closely with government
agencies, contractors, and staff, actively
engaging in monitoring and sampling efforts.

Coast Guard Station

Our MMFN community had the opportunity to
participate in constructing the Coast Guard
Station in Tahsis.

This partnership was made possible through
funding provided to MMFN, allowing us to
contribute to the building process.

Courses

At MMFN, we are pleased to offer the
following courses to our members:

  • Small Vessel Operator Permit (SVOP)
  • Radio Operator Communications Marine (ROCM)
  • Basic Marine First Aid
  • Boat Safety Training (MEDA3)

Contact

Fisheries Coordinator: fisheries@yuquot.ca
Coast Guard Liaison: ccgsliaison@yuquot.ca
Fish Biologist: fishbio@yuquot.ca

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To Come

At MMFN, we are pleased to offer the following courses to our members:

  • Small Vessel Operator Permit (SVOP)
  • Radio Operator Communications Marine (ROCM)
  • Basic Marine First Aid
  • Boat Safety Training (MEDA3)

These courses provide valuable knowledge and skills for those who wish to operate small vessels, handle marine communications, administer first aid in a marine environment, and ensure boat safety.

To Come

COAST GUARD STATION

Our MMFN community had the opportunity to participate in constructing the Coast Guard Station in Tahsis. This partnership was made possible through funding provided to MMFN, allowing us to contribute to the building process.

This partnership with the Coast Guard involved cultural monitoring of the site before construction and hiring MMFN members as part of the construction crew for the foundation and framing. This collaboration created job opportunities and commissioned artworks from prominent MMFN carvers.

The MMFN elders split the artwork between two skilled MMFN artists, Sandford Williams and Patrick Amos. Sandford carved the totem at Yuquot during the summer months, while Patrick Amos started the work for the doors at Ahaminqus and completed the artwork at the MMFN administration building.

Despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Coast Guard building was constructed in 2020. The dedication of the totem pole and artwork by Sandford Williams and Patrick Amos was celebrated in April 2023, marking a significant milestone in the partnership between MMFN and the Coast Guard.

Welcome to MMFN's Fisheries Program!

We actively engage in various seasonal activities to effectively manage our fisheries. During the late winter, our staff assess herring populations to collect age samples and report spawn locations and egg deposition. We collaborate closely with the DFO Stock Assessment and Uu-a-thluk to ensure accurate data.

In the spring, we focus on planning for the upcoming fishing season in partnership with the Ha'oom Fisheries Society and the Ahousaht Indian Band and Nation. Our commercial rights-based fisheries for groundfish begin in March, and we initiate the Gold River sockeye fishery monitoring program in mid-May. While the commercial salmon fisheries offshore have varying opening times, MMFN holds a substantial share of the total allowable catch for salmon within Nootka Sound. We prioritize quality and compliance by subjecting all commercial catches to 100% inspection and validation from third-party monitors.

From September to November, our staff concentrates on salmon escapement assessment projects. We are developing and confirming a new method of assessing Chinook salmon escapement, generously funded by the Pacific Salmon Commission. In 2022, we conducted 41 snorkel surveys for the DFO, demonstrating our commitment to accurate data collection.

We work closely with the DFO technical assessment staff and receive support from the AFS program and Uu-a-thluk Fisheries, the aquatic resource management department of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, to ensure our efforts are successful. Join us in our mission to protect and sustain our valuable fisheries resources!

COAST GUARD

Our relationship with the Coast Guard has been built upon the foundation laid during the Bligh Island Oil Spill incident and the subsequent construction of the Coast Guard Station. During the oil recovery operation, the MMFN chiefs worked closely with government agencies, contractors, and staff, actively engaging in monitoring and sampling efforts. They also participated in environmental resource meetings, logistics coordination, and environmental monitoring to mitigate the spill's impact.

Looking ahead, MMFN remains dedicated to developing Search and Rescue (SAR) capabilities to complement seasonal response efforts in the shoulder seasons, as we are committed to protecting and preserving our coastal environment.

The partnership between MMFN and the Coast Guard has been instrumental in addressing environmental challenges and promoting sustainable practices in our marine environments.