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Photo by: Sean Bennett
Photo submitted.
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OHEB > SCI
> Community Involvement Program |
Community Involvement Program
The Community Involvement Program brings people from communities
throughout the province together to
participate in locally-based enhancement efforts. This Program involves:
There are 18 Community Advisors
who provide technical advice and financial support to about 300
volunteer salmon enhancement and watershed stewardship projects. Community Economic Development Program (CEDP) creates jobs in
areas that were associated with the fishing industry, but are left with limited
fishing opportunities
because of their locations. The Oceans, Habitat and Enhancement Branch (OHEB) assists people in these areas through
financial contracts with Aboriginal bands and community groups to
operate various enhancement projects. There are approximately 21
projects. Public Involvement Program (PIP) helps people who need
financial assistance to secure donated labor, expertise and other resources, to re-establish salmonid populations in
rivers and streams in their neighborhoods. This Program taps into and
supports volunteer spirit and enthusiasm of about 10,000
individuals. A range of educational
material to teach schoolchildren about the value of the
salmon resource. Salmonids in the Classroom, endorsed by the B.C.
Ministry of Education, has been studied by more than one million
schoolchildren throughout B.C. and the Yukon. StreamTalk
stewardship newsletter. Storm Drain Marking Program Operation of approximately 26 government hatcheries,
60 spawning channels and 46 fishways. Streamkeepers Program,
which trains and supports citizens in the monitoring, protection
and improvement of aquatic habitat. The Streamkeepers program has
increased public awareness and involvement at the local level. Salmon
Enhancement and Habitat Advisory Board whom is a
public consultation group to assist Fisheries and Oceans Canada in
developing policy. Click here
for
a listing of projects for the Community Involvement Program
.
Both contract and volunteer efforts have
grown beyond expectations in levels of involvement and fish production. Some projects are
becoming as productive as the federally-staffed major facilities and many have produced
large numbers of fish from stocks of significance to Fisheries Management, but of
insufficient size to have justified government funding for hatchery construction and
operation.
As well, these local activities help ensure
a safe future for B.C. waters and fish through an active role in OHEB's education efforts.
Community projects provide sites for field trips, offer guided tours and frequently assist
schools in obtaining eggs for classroom incubators.
These programs; locally oriented,
operationally-flexible and powered by the enthusiasm of their community workers, have
provided OHEB with the opportunity to protect and enhance runs of salmon in hundreds of
British Columbia's rivers. OHEB and the people of Canada, owe much to the thousands of
citizens involved in these ventures.
Contact Joanne Day,
Information Coordinator, Oceans, Habitat & Enhancement Branch for more
details. Telephone: 604-666-6614; fax 604-666-0417 and e-mail dayj@pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca.
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