Guidelines for Food Fishing

What is a policy? In general, a policy is a system of guidelines to support decision-making and achieve desired outcomes. A policy is not necessarily a law or a formal document but rather an approach to applying predictable protocols procedures and to help governments make decisions. For Kitselas, our policy on fisheries is grounded in the lessons and laws that have governed our territory for millennia: Do not take more than you need, feed elders first, and respect the resource.

We are actively managing and protecting our salmon resource through Nation led policy and practices. This document explains what Kitselas’ guidelines are for food fishing but is not the Fisheries Policy, which exists as part of an overarching Kitselas Stewardship Policy.

Kitselas Fisheries Monitors will be out on the Territory ensuring that Kitselas Fishing Guidelines are being followed. These are the guidelines that we, as Kitselas First Nation members, harvest under:

Food fishing permits are issued to Kitselas community members on a yearly basis via our Fisheries App (see page 8)

Have your food fish permit on you while you are fishing

Only fish within Kitselas Traditional Territory

Be mindful to not fish in one location for more than 48 consecutive hours from Sunday to Saturday, so other Kitselas members have access to popular fishing sites

Label your net with your name and current contact information for Kitselas Fisheries Monitors to see

Do not sell food fish – this includes fresh, smoked, canned, jarred and frozen fish

Report your catch through the Fisheries App or via phone or email

Acquire a transport permit from KLRD if transporting fish out of Kitselas Territory

Fisheries Monitoring Information

1.. If a net is unattended, Kitselas Fisheries Monitors will attempt to contact the owner via the contact information on the net. If the owner cannot be contacted, Fisheries Monitors will return in 48 hours and if the net is still unattended it will be pulled out of the water and the fish will be donated to elders in the community. The net will be taken to the Kitselas Lands and Resources Department (KLRD) office where the owner can collect it.

Stewardship of Kitselas resources is every member’s responsibility. Leaving nets in the water for long periods without being checked can be wasteful and detrimental to the resource that we are all trying to protect. Stewardship of our resources starts at the community level.

2. If a net is unattended and without a contact name/number on it, Kitselas Fisheries Monitors will pull the net immediately and donate fish to elders in the community. The net will be taken to the KLRD office at Gitaus where the owner can collect it.