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Topic

“Knowledge is power”: Re-imagining catch monitoring methods for the Kitasoo Xai’xais community-based fishery

School of Environmental Studies

Date & location

• Friday, November 22, 2024

• 10:30 A.M.

• Virtual Defence

Reviewers

Supervisory Committee

• Dr. Natalie Ban, School of Environmental Studies, University of Victoria (Supervisor)

• Dr. Christina Service, School of Environmental Studies, UVic (Member) 

External Examiner

• Dr. Carie Hoover, Coastal First Nations

Chair of Oral Examination

• Dr. Lauri Parisi, Department of Gender Studies, UVic

   

Abstract

Faced with the mounting cumulative effects of climatic changes and anthropogenic pressures, social-ecological systems like fisheries increasingly rely on monitoring processes to support their ability to effectively adapt. Practices of Indigenous-led fisheries monitoring processes, rooted in long-standing laws and traditions, persisted in what is now known as Canada until colonial governments prohibited and criminalized Indigenous management of fisheries. In recognizing the harm done to Indigenous peoples through federal fisheries policies, the Government of Canada recently committed itself to a historic reconciliation agreement called the Fisheries Resources Reconciliation Agreement. The Fisheries Resources Reconciliation Agreement establishes unique commercial fisheries called community-based fisheries in each of the signatory Nations’ territories while also committing the parties to co-management of priority species. 

As signatory to the Fisheries Resources Reconciliation Agreement, the Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation is looking to develop a multi-species catch monitoring program to inform the management of their community-based fisheries. This Master’s research was born from the Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation’s desire to develop a community-based fishery that balances the long-term resiliency of the marine environment with social well-being and economic viability in a manner that embodies their principles of stewardship. 

This research was carried out in partnership between the Kitasoo Xai’xais Stewardship Authority and the University of Victoria. The primary objective of the research was to establish a Nation driven catch monitoring framework that could be used to inform the development of monitoring structures for the Kitasoo Xai’xais community-based fisheries stood up under the Fisheries Resources Reconciliation Agreement. The primary research questions advanced by this project are (1) What are successful community-led models of fisheries monitoring used in commercial small scale fisheries across the globe?; (2) Based on past and present experience and future aspirations, what could a Kitasoo Xai’xais commercial fisheries monitoring program look like? 

Through a literature review of models of small-scale fisheries monitoring (Chapter 2), we found that participatory decision-making structures, collaborative research, and adaptive management practices were critical to the success of the models we studied. While the various catch monitoring programs and compliance structures we surveyed were distinct and context dependent, we learned that successful small-scale fisheries monitoring programs were firmly rooted in the communities’ values, customs, and practices. 

To answer the second research question, we used a participatory case study approach in partnership with Kitasoo Xai’xais Stewardship Authority staff (Chapter 3). We held semi-structured interviews with 8 knowledge holders in advance of the 2022 harvest season to understand past and present monitoring methods used in Kitasoo Xai’xais territory, and desired direction of a monitoring program. These interviews emerged from the Nation’s desire to recognize and build upon existing systems of fisheries monitoring in the territory. The key outcome for this work includes a dockside catch monitoring interview guide aimed at gathering socio-ecological information from harvesters upon their return from a fishing trip. After two seasons of the dockside monitoring pilot program, we carried out 8 post-season interviews with knowledge holders. The lessons learned from the dockside catch monitoring pilot were reinforced by the recommendations of knowledge holders around the development of a monitoring system for the Nation’s community-based fishery. Together, we collaboratively documented a suite of key elements comprising the community’s vision for the Fisheries Resources Reconciliation Agreement monitoring structure.

Our research establishes a foundation for a Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation-led monitoring structure that centres both Indigenous and western knowledge systems. The recommendations gathered through this project can be mobilized by the Nation to advance the Kitasoo Xai’xais perspective around community-based fisheries monitoring structures at government-to-government planning tables set up under the Fisheries Resources Reconciliation Agreement. The findings from this research may be relevant to other small-scale fisheries in Canada and internationally, where managers are interested in designing more holistic and participatory systems of community-led catch monitoring. Our research contributes to the growing body of literature that is driven by Indigenous priorities in order to inform Nation governance objectives.