February 3, 2003 Volume IX
Issue 04
NEW ASSISTANT
STOCK MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR
When informed that one of my first tasks, as the new Assistant Stock Management Coordinator with the Fraser River Aboriginal Fisheries Secretariat was to introduce myself through Watershed Talk, I admit that it took some thought as to how one goes about such an introduction. I love to talk, but usually not specifically about myself. However, I will attempt to introduce myself to the masses through this forum, while at the same time try not to bore you all.
In order to get this position, I naturally had to interview for it in September, as a replacement for Nathan who returned to school, and was offered a job. Unfortunately, I was unable to accept the position at that time because I was busy completing a field season researching White Sturgeon within the Stuart watershed. As things wound down throughout the early part of the winter of 2002, this position was again offered to me, and with pleasure I accepted and started in January of 2003.
I have been employed by the Lheidli T'enneh First Nation (LTN) as a fisheries biologist since 1997, and worked though a wide range of projects. Much of my time in the past 4 years dealt with sturgeon research on the upper Fraser (for us up here in the North it is basically defined as upstream of Prince George, well beyond Hope!). My job with the LTN was to aid in the development of capacity by working with Band fisheries staff on a very diverse range of projects. From a biological perspective through the Lheidli T'enneh, I worked with (in addition to sturgeon) burbot, bull trout, rainbow trout, chinook, sockeye, grayling, grizzly bears, migratory birds, and moose. Projects have included stock assessment activities, large scale fish and fish habitat inventory projects in both the Anzac and Herrick watersheds, large scale water quality monitoring in the Goat River valley, watershed restoration activities, marine derived nutrient research projects, exploration of the development of in-river selective commercial fishing techniques and opportunities, and the list does go on! In addition, I represented the Lheidli T'enneh in a number of forums such as the UFFCA (Upper Fraser Fisheries Conservation Alliance), Nechako River White Sturgeon Recovery Initiative (through the Action Planning Group) and presented findings of research initiatives such as our sturgeon work at related conferences.
And what do I do for fun on my days off? I go fishing!
As 2003 gets underway, I find myself entering new, but not completely unfamiliar, territory as I start my new role with the Secretariat. On the 15th of January, I met with Neil Todd, Mike Galesloot, Pete Nicklin and the infamous Ken Wilson. Although admittedly not representative of all Fraser First Nations or other organizations I will be working with, this meeting was a good starting point for me to meet some people, get up to speed on some issues within the watershed, and be assigned a few tasks. The scope of my position is obviously very broad, and although I expect ongoing guidance and direction from the Interim Executive Committee (IEC), I have a clear mandate to "disseminate information to and aid in the building of capacity for Fraser First Nations".
One of the first projects in my new role is to set up a series of workshops (same information but in different locations throughout the watershed) regarding Fraser Sockeye Stock Assessment. Through these workshops, a number of topics will be discussed (although the agenda is still under draft) and these are broadly summarized below:
Basic run size estimations and how they are calculated - including errors at locations such as mission
How is this data interpreted
Current in-river tracking
Implementation of increased numbers of test fisheries and what the broad and long-term implications of those can be
In-river conservation concerns
These workshops will take place in Prince George on February 24, Kamloops on February 26 and Chilliwack on the 28th of February for Fraser First Nations, and more details (such as an agenda) will be available soon.
I have a lot of work ahead of me, and I look forward to meeting and working with the people of the Fraser basin.
For more information contact Jason Yarmish at [email protected].
MEETINGS/ WORKSHOPS
Feb. 17, 2003 Interim Executive Committee Meeting in Vancouver, more details to follow.
Feb. 18, 19 & 20, 2003 BCAFC Annual General Assembly in North Vancouver. For more information contact Jen at (604) 913-9061.
Feb. 21, 2003 Tier One Meeting in Tsawwassen, more information to follow later.
For more information, contact Roberta Souriol at (250) 828-217 or [email protected].
|
|
