Streaming Media

Presentation Abstract

Shared Waters Alliance is an international working group focused on the water quality of the Canadian-US shared waters of Boundary Bay. Boundary Bay is a critical section of BC’s rare coastline habitat and is recognized locally, nationally and internationally. Shared Waters was formed in 1999 and is made up of representatives from government, First Nations and community groups from both countries. A primary driver for the formation of this working group was the shellfish harvesting closure on the Canadian side of the border due to bacteriological contamination. Indigenous peoples (including Semiahmoo First Nation) traditionally harvested the abundant fish and shellfish resources for their livelihood. Boundary Bay oysters accounted for 50% of the total provincial oyster production from 1940 -1963, until water contamination forced the closure of commercial, recreational and First Nations harvest. Shared Waters Alliance collaborates on environmental projects that can inform and improve the status of water quality in the Boundary Bay Basin. Current priority actions are focused on the Little Campbell (Tatalu) River watershed as it has been identified as the most significant contributor of fecal coliform contamination to Semiahmoo Bay, and the traditional shellfish harvest location for Semiahmoo First Nation. Current Objectives: ? Pool knowledge ? Establish a shared vision and priorities for restoring water quality in the Little Campbell and Semiahmoo Bay ? Establish a Semiahmoo Nation led shellfish harvest monitoring system ? Undertake collaborative watershed planning to the extent feasible to address land based source of pollution ? Support Shared Waters participants taking on the ground actions to address water quality

Session Title

Conservation Through Different Ways of Knowing

Conference Track

SSE2: How We Protect the Salish Sea

Conference Name

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2022 : Online)

Document Type

Event

SSEC Identifier

SSE-traditionals-268

Start Date

27-4-2022 9:45 AM

End Date

27-4-2022 11:15 AM

Genre/Form

conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)

Subjects – Topical (LCSH)

Shellfish culture--Boundary Bay (B.C. and Wash.); Shellfish--Effect of water pollution on--Boundary Bay (B.C. and Wash.); Bacterial pollution of water--Boundary Bay (B.C. and Wash.); Watershed management--Boundary Bay (B.C. and Wash.); Water quality management--Boundary Bay (B.C. and Wash.)--Planning

Geographic Coverage

Boundary Bay (B.C. and Wash.)

Rights

Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.

Type

Text

Language

English

Format

vnd.ms-powerpoint

Download

Share

COinS
 
Apr 27th, 9:45 AM Apr 27th, 11:15 AM

Collaborative Restoration of Boundary Bay for Traditional Shellfish Harvest: Shared Waters Alliance

Shared Waters Alliance is an international working group focused on the water quality of the Canadian-US shared waters of Boundary Bay. Boundary Bay is a critical section of BC’s rare coastline habitat and is recognized locally, nationally and internationally. Shared Waters was formed in 1999 and is made up of representatives from government, First Nations and community groups from both countries. A primary driver for the formation of this working group was the shellfish harvesting closure on the Canadian side of the border due to bacteriological contamination. Indigenous peoples (including Semiahmoo First Nation) traditionally harvested the abundant fish and shellfish resources for their livelihood. Boundary Bay oysters accounted for 50% of the total provincial oyster production from 1940 -1963, until water contamination forced the closure of commercial, recreational and First Nations harvest. Shared Waters Alliance collaborates on environmental projects that can inform and improve the status of water quality in the Boundary Bay Basin. Current priority actions are focused on the Little Campbell (Tatalu) River watershed as it has been identified as the most significant contributor of fecal coliform contamination to Semiahmoo Bay, and the traditional shellfish harvest location for Semiahmoo First Nation. Current Objectives: ? Pool knowledge ? Establish a shared vision and priorities for restoring water quality in the Little Campbell and Semiahmoo Bay ? Establish a Semiahmoo Nation led shellfish harvest monitoring system ? Undertake collaborative watershed planning to the extent feasible to address land based source of pollution ? Support Shared Waters participants taking on the ground actions to address water quality