Rivers and Smith Salmon Ecosystems Planning Society

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   Rivers and Smith Salmon Ecosystems Planning Society 
Introduction to/Vision of the RSSEPS

The Rivers and Smith Salmon Ecosystems Planning Society was constituted under the BC Societies Act on August 21, 2003. This represented formalization of an entity that has existed since mid 2000 for purposes of convening different parties and interests to pursue the common goal of stewardship for salmon and their ecosystems.

The Rivers and Smith Salmon Ecosystems Planning Group (RSSEPS) grew out of a number of initiatives by First Nations, public agencies, forest companies, environmental and stewardship organizations, local governments, fishing interests and concerned individuals, undertaken in response to serious declines in salmon. In August 2000 what turned out to be an inaugural meeting of the group took place at Rivers Inlet (Wuikinuxv, formerly Oweekeno, Village) to consider a draft recovery plan for sockeye which had collapsed precipitously in both Rivers and Smith Inlets. The group has drafted a vision statement as follows:

We see the salmon of Rivers and Smith, and their ecosystems, restored to health and to a level of optimal productivity. We see the full potential values of the salmon and their ecosystems realized for individual and community development. We envision the continuing development of ecosystem research and public education to promote the work of recovery and stewardship.

Membership in the RSSEPS

As of 2007, the organizational membership included:

bulletGwa’sala-’Nakwaxda’xw First Nation
bulletWuikinuxv First Nation
bulletCanada Department of Fisheries and Oceans
bulletDistrict of Port Hardy
bulletRaincoast Conservation Society
bulletRivers Inlet North Coast Salmon Enhancement Association
bulletSFU Centre for Coastal Studies.
bulletCommercial Fishers representative

Structure

The RSSEPS has a management committee of three which for 2006 is Bruce Burrows representing the Wuikinuxv First Nation, Colleen Hemphill representing the Gwa'sala Nakwaxda'xw First Nations, and Misty MacDuffee of the Raincoast Conservation Society.

The RSSEPS also has as a Technical Advisory Committee which consists of DFO staff with expertise in Rivers and Smith Salmon stocks, representatives from the two First Nations, Rick Routledge from SFU and Bob Bocking from LGL Ltd., environmental consultants. The RSSEPS has a half-time coordinator who is responsible for project development and management, fund raising and communications. The current coordinator for the RSSEPS is David Stevenson. Contact: http://www.rsseps.ca/

Funding

In 2003, the RSSEPS received funding from the Pacific Salmon Foundation to develop a Salmon Recovery Plan and to carry out field work in the summer of 2003. Funding from the PSF sustained the work of the society in 2004, 2005. and 2006. On 2006 the PSF decided to invest its funds in the Fraser River and so their funding for the RSSEPS Recovery Plan came to an end. Funding for projects in 2006 and 2007 has been generously provided by the Tula Foundation through the Pacific Salmon Foundation. The Tula Foundation is a private Canadian family foundation formed in 2002. They use their financial resources to promote the health, productivity and diversity of communities, including both people and the natural environment. They support initiatives in Canada, and they are also active internationally, most notably in Central America. Their web address is: http://www.tula.ca/

Geographic Focus

The stocks (and their ecosystems) which are the focal point of RSSEPS efforts originate in the rivers flowing into Owikeno and Long Lakes on BC’s Central Coast. The first map below indicates the approximate location of Rivers and Smith Inlets while the second enumerates the major river and stream systems.

 

Rivers And Smith Inlets Digital Atlas

 

 
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