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Inland compliance program realignment
DFO has not reduced its investment in inland waters conservation. Funding continues to be committed specifically for compliance and directed enforcement, however, delivery of any program must be within the fiscal parameters established. Stopping poaching must be a co-operative effort, where the public and all stakeholders take a proactive approach to education and awareness, and encourage stewardship.
A review was finalized in 2002, with recommendations that an inland fisheries compliance program strategy be implemented to optimize the long-term benefit to salmon stocks and the public.
Historically, inland fisheries compliance has been delivered primarily by contracted fishery guardians during the summer salmon run, with fishery officers providing supervision, logistical support and public education initiatives.
Despite these efforts, however, it was recognized that the level of poaching was not decreasing, and the inland compliance program’s capacity to target commercial poaching operations needed to be strengthened.
In the fall of 2002 and 2003, consultations were held with internal and external stakeholders to identify options for change to ensure the program would most effectively manage conservation and improve compliance.
Through these consultations, it was recommended that the current approach to inland fisheries enforcement be altered and move away from a static, river-based contracted fishery guardian program to a more adaptive all-encompassing inland enforcement program.
A new enforcement strategy was developed in 2003 that encompassed preventative and proactive strategies, while enhancing mobility to better target large scale commercial poaching operations that have the most potential to seriously damage the resource.
DFO has made a number of key changes to its inland enforcement strategy, as it relates to fishery guardians. These changes will allow for a more responsive and flexible approach to targeting high priority areas. These key changes included increased funding for overnight patrols; allotments in each contract for special enforcement projects and funding to accommodate overtime flexibility.
DFO fishery officers and guardians are continuously working on methods to stop poaching. This includes trying new methods of surveillance and equipment that aid in covert operations. Undercover and night patrols have been successful this year in leading to arrests of violators.
Over the past several years, the inland conservation program has diversified and now includes co-operative efforts with Crimestoppers, aboriginal guardians, Department of Natural Resources and improved public education efforts. Some of these initiatives have already demonstrated positive results, and we believe that any changes to the inland conservation program should build on these successes.
Community involvement
While enforcement continues to be the cornerstone of Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s (DFO) mandate, community stewardship and stakeholder involvement also play key roles in efforts to curb poaching, and to conserve Atlantic Salmon populations.
This commitment to shared stewardship is integral to DFO’s enforcement strategy, and the co-operative efforts are working:
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DFO and the Northwest River Working Group have joined forces since 2002 to protect salmon in the Northwest River, Port Blandford. The co-operation is working. Salmon counts for 2004 show a return of 1,377 salmon through the counting fence – an increase of more than double the salmon through just two years ago.
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On the west coast, a similar working group has seen returns to Harry’s River increase from 2,756 in 2003 to 3,148 this year. Small retention fisheries have been permitted on these rivers for the past two years, and the presence of anglers is a deterrent to poachers.
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DFO is expanding its community stewardship efforts to Ragged Harbour River in Notre Dame Bay and Bay St. George Rivers on the west coast. Public meetings have been held in these areas to discuss concerns over declining populations, and ways and means to restore fish to these rivers. The intent of this consultation is to develop Atlantic Salmon Conservation/Stock Rebuilding Action Plans for these river systems.
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In 2003, DFO partnered with the Indian Bay Ecosystem Corporation (IBEC) to increase monitoring and surveillance activities in the Indian Bay and Southwest Pond watershed areas. Enforcement presence in this watershed increased due to a Joint Project Agreement between DFO and IBEC which provided two compliance monitors to undertake routine patrols and low-risk monitoring and surveillance duties. This program continued in 2004.
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A similar agreement was signed in 2004 with the Gander River Management Association (GRMA) for the Gander River Watershed area. There are five compliance monitors for this river system. These agreements are another step forward in DFO’s ongoing commitment to providing a greater role for user groups in the conservation and protection of salmonids in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Education is also an important tool towards public support and participation. Fishery officers take time to visit province’s schools to educate children about conservation. To that end, a Fishery Officer for a Day essay contest has been developed with a goal to having children think about stewardship and conservation. For the general public, an ad campaign has been launched to draw attention to the need for public ownership of the resource.
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