Learning from the Past: Strengthening Collaborative Skeena River Watershed Fisheries Management

The Skeena River near Prince Rupert is home to five species of salmon, steelhead and many other aquatic species, and draws diverse interests which include: federal and provincial governments, First Nations, commercial and recreational fishers, non-governmental environmental organizations, small businesses, and the public. Parties with diverse ecological, economic and cultural interests such as these present complex challenges that can impede collaborative fisheries management. Two historical collaborative fisheries management processes, the Skeena Watershed Committee (SWC) and the Skeena Watershed Initiative (SWI), are no longer operating and provide an opportunity to analyze what did and didn’t work in these collaborative processes. The objective of this research is to investigate the existence, causes and impacts of collaboration strengths and challenges in these two historical Skeena River fisheries management processes. Study outcomes will include new knowledge about collaboration successes and challenges, and recommendations to address collaborative Skeena River fisheries management challenges in support of long-term, effective collaborative fisheries management.

Faculty Supervisor:

Leslie King

Student:

Partner:

Pacific Salmon Foundation;Canadian Fishing Company

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Agriculture; Other services (except public administration); Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Royal Roads University

Program: