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THE RUNNER

Fishers working together

November 2019 • Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance

Sq’eptset Syoyes Sth’o’th’eqwi

The Runner • November 2019

staff & contributors Murray Ned Executive Director Don Simpson First Nations Economic Development Officer Rosalie Hope Acting Program Coordinator Dionne Bunsha Aboriginal Knowledge Coordinator Aidan Fisher Staff Biologist Ian Hamilton Staff Biologist Ashlee Prevost Staff Biologist Uwe Spremberg Staff Biologist Eden Toth Media Relations Gillian Fuss Emergency Planning Secretariat Coordinator Maggie Mazurkewich Emergency Planning Secretariat Outreach Assistant Vanessa Serroul Emergency Planning Secretariat Executive Assistant

EDITORIAL POLICY The Runner newsletter is produced quarterly by the Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance. Our purpose is to inform readers about LFFA organization processes, developments and news. We will gladly accept signed comments, questions and opinions about our newsletter and will consider withholding contributor’s name if desired.

Individual articles from The Runner may be reprinted, photocopied or redistributed with permission from The Runner provided the date of publication and source of the material is indicated. Please notify The Runner if you would like to reprint an article. All community members are welcome to contribute thoughts, articles and letters to The Runner.

Submissions and letters should be send to: The Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance 2788 Sumas Mountain Road Abbotsford, BC V3G 2J2 Phone: 778.847.3323 Email: communications@lﬀa.ca Publication is not guaranteed.

Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance

in this issue 04 05 06 08 10 12 13 14

Message from the Executive Director Updated Organizational Chart Emergency Planning Secretariat Fisheries Update LFFA Biologist staďŹ€ changes Job posting: Communications Coordinator Job posting: Program Assistant Job posting: Fisheries Biologist

In the old days there was a house on the top of Chilliwack Mountain facing down-river. The man who lived there had only one job; to watch for two silver bands on both sides of the river; millions of oolichan arriving. His job then was to run down the mountain to spread the word to other runners. People would come from near and far each year. The Runner endeavors to do this job once again, albeit electronically. Ken Malloway LFFA Chair

The Runner • November 2019

Message from the Executive Director We are growing, adjusting and diversifying! The LFFA secured funding through the PICFI Aquaculture Development Strategy to secure a Fisheries Economic Development Officer and support further development of our Lower Fraser Enterprise entity. Don Simpson will be seconded to manage the Enterprise and pursue longer term funding to sustain this position and operations for the 2020 fiscal. Don’s vacancy from the Program Coordinator position will mean that Rosalie Hope will move from Program Assistant to take on the Program Coordinator role at an Acting capacity. The Communications Coordinator and Program Assistant roles will remain vacant temporarily, with support being provided by Media Relation (Eden Toth). We will revisit the Communications Coordinator position before fiscal year end. We may also consider contracting or employing a Finance person to take on accounts payable and receivable along with the routine interactions with Sumas First Nation Finance team. This endeavour would be part of our growth strategy to take on more of the fiscal accountability with less dependence on Sumas First Nation. This shift in LFFA personnel is a term arrangement until the end of this fiscal and will be evaluated at that time. An updated organizational chart has been attached to provide a general understanding of the current staffing and programming. During this quarter we hired two additional biologists, Uwe Spremberg and Ashlee Prevost, to support our Coastal Restoration Fund and Collaborative Stewardship Forum projects. We also welcomed our very first LFFA biologist intern, Benny Jean Cytrynbaum. A special thank you to Ian Hamilton for providing sound mentorship and a solid work plan for making Benny Jean’s experience productive and enjoyable. This seems like a lot of change in a short period, but it is completely consistent with the existing LFFA Strategic Plan that expires at the end of 2019. These changes also represent the recently updated draft Strategic Plan (2020 to 2022) that will be shared with LFFA Delegates in the third quarter. We are excited to review this with leadership and pursue approval to carry on important fisheries work in the Lower Fraser.

In Unity,

Murray Ned Executive Director Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance

Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance

! ! !

G ! O V ! E !!!!!!!!! R ! N !A !N C ! E ! ! ! !

O ! P ! E !R A ! T ! I !O !N S ! ! ! !

Updated: LFFA Organizational Chart !!!!!!!!! LOWER FRASER FIRST NATION MEMBERSHIP Communities and their members from the mouth of the Fraser River to the Canyon.

LOWER FRASER CHIEF AND COUNCIL – 30 FIRST NATIONS Leadership from the mouth of the Fraser River to the Canyon.

MOU PARTNERS

FRASER SALMON MANAGEMENT COUNCIL – 19 LFFNS

LOCAL - FVAFS, STSA REGIONAL - ONA, UFFCA, IMAWG, SFC PROVINCIAL – FNFC, STSA

EMERGENCY PLANNING SECRETARIAT (LFFA Host Agency) EPS Coordinator Executive Assistant Program Assistant

LFFA WORKING GROUPS TWG – S & NS AEWG – T1 & 2, 3 CEAWG

LOWER FRASER FISHERIES ALLIANCE SOCIETY – 23 FNs Fishery Representatives with delegated authority.

TIER 3 - TBD

LOWER FRASER ENTERPRISES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP Fisheries Economic Development Officer

HOST AGENCY!

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE !

Sumas First Nation!

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! FUNDERS Federal, Provincial, NGO’s, Industry

LFFA PERSONNEL @A31B,*C3!D*&31,-&! !

CONTRACT SERVICES

BIOSPHERE

FINANCE / ADMINISTRATION Program Coordinator Program Assistant Communications Coord.

Resource Management 2 Bios

Habitat Restoration 3 Bios

LFAK & Climate Adapt Coordinator

Biologist Facilitator, Media Relations, Legal

The Runner • November 2019

New faces at the Emergency Planning Secretariat

Vanessa Serroul EPS Executive Assistant

Vanessa is the new Executive Assistant for the Emergency Planning Secretariat. Vanessa was born in the small community of Lillooet, B.C., where she resided in her home community of Xwísten (Bridge River Indian Band) until she graduated high school. Vanessa moved to the Fraser Valley in 1999 to attend UFV (then UCFV). She has spent the last 18 years with the Matsqui First Nation community – working there for 6 of those years. In her time there, she has developed close relationships with many community members and has gained invaluable insight into the unique way people live along the Fraser River. Vanessa has seen firsthand the impact that flooding can have on fishing communities and so is eager to make an impact through her work at the Secretariat.

Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance

Maggie Mazurkewich EPS Outreach Assistant

Maggie has been hired to work as the Outreach Assistant for the Emergency Planning Secretariat. Originally from Saskatoon, she completed her bachelor’s degree in Commerce at the University of Saskatchewan and has since spent the last 15 years working in Toronto, Vancouver, mountain towns in B.C. and Alberta and abroad. Her work experience includes marketing, project management, communications and emergency management planning for agencies, crown corporations, private organizations and local government. Maggie has been living in Chilliwack for 8 years and feels very at home amongst the beauty of the farms, rivers, lakes and mountains where she enjoys exploring, hiking, biking and snowboarding with her 6-year-old son. Over the past few years, with the increasing threats of freshet floods and forest fires on our communities, she’s been working towards a certificate in Emergency Management. Maggie is very excited to be a part of the team coordinating First Nations Emergency Management Strategies to protect our communities, promote effective partnerships and enhance regional collaboration.

The Runner • November 2019

Fisheries Update Aidan Fisher, Staff Biologist After a disappointing summer for Fraser salmon fisheries due to a lack of sockeye, Big Bar rock slide issues and a frantic pink fishery, Lower Fraser First Nations fisheries are contending with new and more restrictive fishery management for chum fisheries. Several months ago, DFO announced a new fisheries management to protect Interior Fraser Steelhead. In addition to the new Steelhead management regime, the management restrictions are in addition to preexisting Interior Fraser Coho management. The Interior Fraser Steelhead management actions changed in 2018 to be more restrictive than previous, and once again in 2019 the management actions are even more restrictive than 2018.

Figure 1. Historic trend of Interior Fraser Steelhead spawner abundance, from 2019-2020 Salmon IFMP.

To protect Interior Fraser Steelhead in 20, DFO only considered impacts by Fraser river commercial gillnet ﬁsheries.

Interior Fraser Steelhead Management Actions In 2017 and previously, the only management restriction to mainstem FSC salmon gillnet fisheries was the Interior Fraser Coho window closure, which was implemented from Labour Day weekend, until the first week in October. During this period no non-selective fisheries were licenced which targets gillnet fisheries specifically. Non-selective fisheries are defined as fishing methods that induce high mortality in released fish, and released non-target species have a high chance of mortality after release. There was allowance for selective fisheries only (beach seine, dip net, fishwheel, etc.) during the Interior Fraser Coho window closure, and once the window closure was lifted mainstem FSC salmon gillnet fisheries could continue directed at chum. Selective fisheries are defined as fisheries where release mortality is relatively low, and non-target species can be released relatively unharmed. Implementing selective fisheries allows for some fisheries access, while prioritizing conservation for comigrating stocks of concern.

DFO identified a small window that would allow for the majority of the Interior Fraser Steelhead run to pass through the fishery area before any commercial fishing activity was initiated. They did not constrain FSC gillnet fisheries after the Interior Fraser Coho window closure. DFO also allowed continued access for Beach Seine EO fisheries after the Interior Fraser Coho window closure provided there was identified Total Allowable Catch (TAC) available for the fishery. The assertion was that implementing selective commercial fisheries allows for nearly all Steelhead encountered in the fishery to be released unharmed. In response to increased scrutiny on Interior Fraser Steelhead and fisheries that intercept them as bycatch, DFO implemented a new Interior Fraser Steelhead management regime in 2018. The restrictions were targeted at non-selective fisheries and the majority of the reductions in fisheries were targeted at Lower Fraser First Nations FSC chum gillnet fisheries. The management regime restricted fisheries to 2 one day fisheries from Sept 29 to Oct 25. Previously FSC chum gillnet fisheries were

Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance

licenced for two day fisheries every weekend after the Interior Fraser Coho window closure. Other fisheries were restricted. Notably the in-river recreational chum fishery was closed for the same period, but operationally there were limited reductions to in-river commercial chum fisheries. Beach seine EO fisheries were closed during the new Interior Fraser Steelhead window closure. Now in 2019 even more restrictive fishery management actions have been implemented for chum fisheries due to Interior Fraser Steelhead conservation concern. Interior Fraser Steelhead will not be listed as Endangered on the Species At Risk Act on an Emergency Listing basis. Instead an Interior Fraser Steelhead Action Plan has been introduced, which includes a list of fishery management actions to be implemented this year. Lower Fraser FSC fisheries had the 27 days applied, which overlaps with the Interior Fraser Coho window closure. In practice the Lower Fraser FSC gillnet fishery is closed from Sept 3-Oct 25. For EO fisheries, the 42 day window closure was applied, from Sept 22-Nov 2. The Fraser Pink EO beach seine fishery was closed on Sept 23 even though there was substantial catch happening during this period. DFO is not considering any allowance for selective fisheries during the Interior Fraser Steelhead window closure, FSC or EO. Fraser Chum Unlike Fraser sockeye there is no preseason forecast for Fraser chum therefore planning for chum fisheries is difficult preseason. There are assumptions that previous years are informative to the current

year but the uncertainty is substantial. For 2019 expectations are for FSC chum fisheries and some EO fisheries pending TAC identification. There is in-season estimation methods that identify an in-season run size and TAC for commercial fisheries if the run size is large enough. The consideration for fishery planning this year was the new management restrictions described for Interior Fraser Steelhead. The Interior Fraser Window closure also significantly affects the chum fishery. The consideration for identifying in-season run size and subsequent TAC are reliant on catch at the Albion test fishery. Catch at Albion in the current year is compared to previous years and the corresponding estimated run size, with that relationship an estimation of run size for the current year is achievable with some uncertainty. Based on the in-season run size estimate TAC is identified. If the run size is below 916,000 then no commercial TAC is available and all chum go to FSC and recreational fisheries. Below 800,000 there are further restrictions to only allow FSC fisheries. Above 916,000 then some limited commercial fisheries are licenced with a maximum ER of 10%, in addition to FSC and recreational fisheries. Above 1,050,000 then commercial fisheries are licenced with a maximum ER of 15%, in addition to FSC and recreational fisheries.

The Runner • November 2019

Two New Biologists join LFFA UWE SPREMBERG Uwe brings an impressive set of skills to his new role at the Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance. Originally from Germany, Uwe studied marine biology at both the University of California and the University of Copenhagen. After completing his master’s degree, he came to Canada and enrolled in ﬁsheries and aquaculture studies at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo and worked as an aquaculture consultant and later a ﬁsheries observer. Uwe has researched everything from barnacles to shore crab and speaks three languages.

Small pond, big fish: the LFFA team comes from all over!

Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance

Staﬀ spotlight

ASHLEE PREVOST Ashlee packed up her home in Montreal and made the decision to come West and work for the Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance earlier this fall. A graduate of Concordia University, where she did both an undergraduate degree and a master’s degree focused on ﬁsh population genetics and conservation, Ashlee has put her studies to work in New York, Vermont, and New Brunswick. She has previously worked on two applied Atlantic salmon reintroduction programs for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Parks Canada. Ashlee loves her work, and is looking forward to getting to know the communities that LFFA serves in the lower Fraser Valley.

The Runner • November 2019

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR Job Title: LFFA Communications Coordinator Location: Abbotsford, BC Term: Full-time Term Position to March 31, 2020. Possibility of extension subject to funding. Start date: ASAP Wage: Competitive, negotiable subject to experience and qualifications Reports to: LFFA Program Coordinator BACKGROUND: The Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance (LFFA) currently serves thirty First Nation communities from the mouth of the Fraser River to the Fraser Canyon of which twenty-three are signatories to the LFFA Society. The organization is guided by an Executive Committee who is directed by the leadership of the Lower Fraser First Nations. The LFFA advocates and supports collaboration of First Nation communities, leaders and their members on fishery matters. The fishery initiatives include coordination of dialogue forums, capacity building, engagement with DFO and other fishery organizations, and development of fisheries management frameworks.

BASIC FUNCTIONS: The activities of the Communications Coordinator will include: • Communications and LFFA Branding initiatives; • All aspects of LFFA communiqués, annual or quarterly (planning, writing, desktop publishing, and distribution) and coordinating e mail distribution and contact lists; • Coordinate special events, media releases and publications; • Coordinate and manage LFFA website and social media accounts • Recording keeping, public or media related engagements Preparation of media reports, press releases, briefing notes and presentations; • Develop communication materials such as flyers/brochures; posters; etc. • Support/participate/assist the Communications Event Planning and Administration Working Group • Other duties and communications support to the LFFA Executive Director as directed. SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED: • Training or relevant experience in communications, graphic design, information management; • Knowledge of B.C. First Nations perspectives and communications styles/preferences; • Knowledge of political and social impacts that affect BC First Nations; • Experience developing newsletters, reports or writing articles; • Ability to work with web design and editing software; • Experience organizing media and public relation meetings and conferences; • Experience working with a desktop publishing program (Microsoft Publisher or Adobe Creative Suite); • Experience generating and maintaining distribution lists;

• Intermediate/advanced computer and typing skills (MS Office Suite); • Excellent organizational and time management skills; and • Ability to establish and maintain co-operative working relationships with colleagues and external agencies and their representatives. Other Requirements: • Valid BC Driver’s License; • Ability to pass a Criminal Record Check; • The ability to work in a team environment and independently. • The ability to work flexible hours and away from home to attend meetings • A Post-Secondary degree or courses in Business Administration, Information Management and/or Communications; Application Deadline: 4:00 pm November 29, 2019 but will remain posted at lffa.ca until the position has been filled. Interested candidates should submit a complete resume, 3 letters of reference and cover letter to: Attn: Rosalie Hope – Acting Program Coordinator, LFFA Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance 2788 Sumas Mtn. Rd. Abbotsford BC V3G 2J2 Tel: 604-852-4040 ext. 34 Email: Rosalie.hope@lffa.ca Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Preference is given to persons of Aboriginal ancestry as per Section 41 of the Human Rights Code.

Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: PROGRAM ASSISTANT Job Title: LFFA Program Assistant Location: Abbotsford, BC Term: Full-time Term Position to March 31, 2020. Possibility of extension subject to funding. Start date: ASAP Wage: Competitive, negotiable subject to experience and qualifications Reports to: LFFA Program Coordinator BACKGROUND: The Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance (LFFA) currently serves thirty First Nation communities from the mouth of the Fraser River to the Fraser Canyon of which twenty-three are signatories to the LFFA Society. The organization is guided by an Executive Committee who is directed by the leadership of the Lower Fraser First Nations. The LFFA advocates and supports collaboration of First Nation communities, leaders and their members on fishery matters. The fishery initiatives include coordination of dialogue forums, capacity building, engagement with DFO and other fishery organizations, and development of fisheries management frameworks.

BASIC FUNCTIONS: The role of the Program Assistant is coordination, planning, program development, financial monitoring and reporting, and technical support to fisheries program staff, the Executive Director and Executive Committee. Activities will include: • Assist with drafting of monthly LFFA communications (newsletters, communiqués, website, calendars, media releases) and coordinating e mail distribution and contact lists. • Assist with meeting coordination and conference planning, including setting up communications, technical and meeting equipment. • Preparation of agendas, record meeting minutes and dissemination of minutes. • Preparation of documents, summaries, and reports. • Assist in coordinating LFFA website development, updates and content management. • Assist with development and implementation of communications, branding and information management strategies. • Assist in preparation of quarterly and annual reports. • Processing and recording of travel and honoraria claims and related invoices. • Other duties and administrative support to the LFFA Executive Director. SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED: • Knowledge and experience with fisheries resource management or related programs. • Excellent verbal and written communication skills and proven ability to establish rapport with people of all educational and occupational backgrounds. • Proficient in MS Office programming, intermediate or advanced computer and typing skills.

• Excellent organizational and time management skills. • Proposal writing and Minute taking are also assets. Other Requirements: • Valid BC Driver’s License; • Ability to pass a Criminal Record Check; • 1 – 2 years of Post-Secondary educational courses in Business Administration, Information and/or Office Management or 2-4 years of relevant on-the-job training and work experience; • The ability to work in a team environment and independently. • The ability to work flexible hours and away from home to attend meetings or conduct field work. Application Deadline: 4:00 pm November 29, 2019 but will remain posted at lffa.ca until the position has been filled. Interested candidates should submit a complete resume, 3 letters of reference and cover letter to: Attn: Rosalie Hope – Acting Program Coordinator, LFFA Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance 2788 Sumas Mtn. Rd. Abbotsford BC V3G 2J2 Tel: 604-852-4040 ext. 34 Email: Rosalie.hope@lffa.ca Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Preference is given to persons of Aboriginal ancestry as per Section 41 of the Human Rights Code.

The Runner • November 2019

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: FISHERIES BIOLOGIST Job Title: LFFA Fisheries Biologist Location: Abbotsford, BC Term: Full-time Term Position to March 31, 2020. Possibility of extension subject to funding. Start date: ASAP Wage: Competitive, negotiable subject to experience and qualifications Reports to: LFFA Executive Director BACKGROUND: The Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance (LFFA) is a collaboration of thirty First Nation communities from the mouth of the Fraser River to the Fraser Canyon. The organization is guided by an Executive Committee who is directed by Leadership and Fishery Technicians of the First Nations. The LFFA provides advocacy, technical and coordination support to First Nation communities and their leaders in fishery matters. Working with LFFA will provide candidates with a diverse fisheries resource management experience. The organization was established in 2010 and is growing its capacity to manage and coordinate Fraser River protection and habitat restoration. The LFFA is a First Nations aggregate organization for government, industry, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to establish best practices and coordinate resource and community needs. Fish and fish habitat restoration is a key component of the LFFA’s strategic mandate and we work with our member First Nations, governments, and stakeholders to restore the productivity of the Lower Fraser River. The Fisheries Biologist will participate in building a network of environmental, First Nation, and government organizations to summarize and map the present status of wetlands/marshes in the lower Fraser River region and its associated estuary. This will involve engagement with senior biologists, technical working groups, First Nations community members, and resource managers within government and the greater community, providing unique opportunities for career growth and learning. The successful applicant should be comfortable working in a fast-paced and dynamic environment. KEY FUNCTIONS: The Fisheries Biologist will provide coordination, planning, program development, financial monitoring and reporting, technical support and advice to fisheries Program Staff, Executive Committee, Working Groups and Lower Fraser First Nations. Activities include: • Working with a project biologist from Pacific Salmon Foundation to review salmon habitat restoration priorities; • Engage and incorporate First Nations in restoration activities including conducting baseline habitat assessments, planning and implementing restoration plans, monitoring for effectiveness, and reporting; • Liaise with fisheries organizations at the regional, provincial and national scales to support the technical advancement of LFFA; • Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, and establishing professional networks; • Prepare technical discussion papers, briefing notes and project reports; • Facilitate technical sessions and assist with relevant event planning; • Supervision of some staff; and, • Develop funding proposals to sustain and support biological and technical initiatives of LFFA. SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED: • A Bachelor of Science degree in a natural resources related field with a minimum 3 years fisheries experience; • Knowledge of Federal and Provincial management of fisheries and aquatic resources; • Working with consultants, government agencies and non-governmental organizations; • Demonstrated understanding of key fisheries interests of First Nations and capable of developing innovative and effective approaches to pursuing them;

Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance

• Ability to manage and prioritize heavy workloads involving multiple tasks and changing priorities; • Excellent verbal and written communication skills and proven ability to establish rapport with people of all educational and occupational backgrounds; • Proficient in MS Office programming, intermediate/advanced computer and typing skills; Other Requirements: • Valid BC Driver’s License; • Ability to pass a Criminal Record Check; • The ability to work in a team environment and independently. • The ability to work flexible hours and away from home to attend meetings or conduct field work. Application Deadline: 4:00 pm November 29, 2019 but will remain posted at lffa.ca until the position has been filled. Interested candidates should submit a complete resume, 3 letters of reference and cover letter to: Attn: Rosalie Hope – Acting Program Coordinator, LFFA Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance 2788 Sumas Mtn. Rd. Abbotsford BC V3G 2J2 Tel: 604-852-4040 ext. 34 Email: Rosalie.hope@lffa.ca Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Preference is given to persons of Aboriginal ancestry as per Section 41 of the Human Rights Code.