Shrinking giant: rockfish research tells a story










Want to know more about our rockfish research and its ties to our Indigenous rights? Check out our Reports page to see our published scientific papers.
Comic by Nicole Burton.










Want to know more about our rockfish research and its ties to our Indigenous rights? Check out our Reports page to see our published scientific papers.
Comic by Nicole Burton.

After years of difficulties with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), our Nations won a major victory this spring when DFO agreed to suspend the 2018 commercial herring roe fishery across the Central Coast. Central Coast herring populations have seen major declines from industrial fishing practices. The Heiltsuk and Kitasoo/Xai’xais Nations have each taken their own…

Guided by the objectives of our Nations’ marine use plans, CCIRA scientists and their collaborators have been hard at work doing research that couples our traditional and local knowledge with modern scientific techniques to tackle questions about marine resources that matter to our people.

Marine environments are vulnerable to human exploitation, and Central Coast ecosystems are no different. Our territories have suffered from the effects of overfishing and other industries, like forestry, for decades. To preserve our Nations’ way of life, long-term conservation planning and monitoring of environmental changes are critical. Just ask Ernie Tallio, who’s seen the cumulative…

2017 was a big year for Heiltsuk’s Zoe Hopkins. Her debut film Kayaking to Klemtu won the Air Canada Audience Choice Award at the 2017 imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival. In the film, the primary character, Ella, is on a quest to prevent oil spills in her people’s territory within the Great Bear Rainforest. But…

Mike Reid remembers when fishing in Heiltsuk territory was easier and far more productive. At age 12, he started commercial fishing with his grandfather and recalls catching their share of halibut, crabs, clams and other local marine staples without much trouble—all fairly close to home. “Now you have to go further, spend more time and burn more fuel,” says Reid…

Issue #9, April 2018 on CCIRA | Inside this issue: Doug Neasloss featured in National Geographic, Science update, Shrinking giant: rockfish research tells a story, local filmmaker highlights need for better oil spill response and more…