Marine

Marine concerns in HTG core territories.

Inter-tidal and marine resources are highly important to Hul'qumi'num people. Beach and foreshore foods such as cockles, clams, mussels, oysters, and crabs are used for food, social, ceremonial, and trade purposes. Today, the use of (and benefit form) these marine resources is challenged by issues related to contamination and access.

Most beaches in HTG territory are polluted and closed to harvesting of most or all foreshore resources by the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans. these closures are a result of contamination by a wide array of sources including: leaky septic systems, farm and urban runoff, sewage outfall, and Pulp and paper mill effluent. There are currently five ares of shellfish harvesting closures in HTG territory, two areas are closed to all shellfish and three are closed only to particular shellfish. Contamination also diminishes the potential of economic benefit form foreshore resources. The process of cleaning contaminated shellfish products raises costs and creates marginal returns for all but the most high volume producers.

For the most up-to-date information on biotoxin and sanitary closures, the BC Centre for Disease Control has a very useful web map: http://maps.bccdc.org/shellfish/

Harvesting on beaches that are not closed due to contamination is challenged by access and enclosure issues. Beaches in HTG territory often have upland owners who rarely allow land access to harvesters and boat access to these beaches is often economically prohibitive to Hul'qumi'num harvesters. Access is also restricted within proximity of docks, wharves, and marinas. Public and crown moorages line the coastline of HTG territory with 1442 moorages and 149 miscellaneous marine Crown leases. This infrastructure dramatically diminishes where harvesting rights can be exercised. Privatization and enclosure of shellfish harvesting areas also poses a challenge to access. There are 29 sites for shellfish leases, and 64 separate tenures for shellfish aquaculture in HTG territory. though Hul'qumi'num people participate in commercial shellfish operation as labourers or business owners the economic benefit has been limited. Hul’qumi’num people have also expressed strong concerns about how parks and protected areas further restricting their ability to harvest coastal resources. There has been some action to remedy this in the National Parks where, recently, work on revitalizing shellfish harvesting has been done.

For more information on the Hul’qumi’num peoples strategic vision on Marine Resources, please see the HTG Strategic Land Use Plan: Chapter 7.1 and Chapter 7.5