PARKSVILLE 2019 SYMPOSIUM SUPPORTER: Department of Fisheries & Oceans (DFO) – “Opportunities to support continued dialogue, engagement and advancements in innovation across professional disciplines and jurisdictions engaged in water management, conservation and sustainability is of vital importance and genuine benefit,” stated Nick Leone
Note to Reader:
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, frequently referred to as Department of Fisheriesand Oceans (DFO), is the department within the government of Canada that is responsible for developing and implementing policies and programs in support of Canada’s economic, ecological and scientific interests in oceans and inland waters.
The federal government is constitutionally mandated for conservation and protection of fisheries resources in all Canadian fisheries waters. However, the department is largely focused on the conservation and allotment of harvests of salt water fisheries on the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic coasts of Canada.
What Happens on the Land Matters
“DFO is a member of the Parksville 2019 Symposium Organizing Committee,” reports Kim Stephens, Executive Director, Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia.
“DFO involvement in delivering the Symposium program is viewed as a good thing. It bodes well as an added catalyst for the future, particularly in light of the emerging British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund initiative (and partnership potential) and elevated provincial interest and collaboration in salmon recovery.
“Salmon are recognized as an iconic species, often considered the ‘Canaries of watershed health’ – with the basic premise being that what is good for salmon is indicative of healthy, productive watersheds and vise-versa.
“This perspective ‘compels or encourages’ DFO government engagement and collaboration in such broader processes and thinking beyond simply salmon alone – that is, ‘beyond the fins’; recognizing the value of mutual interests and benefits of collective efforts in restoration of watershed functions.”
To Learn More:
Visit http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/species-especes/salmon-saumon/wsp-pss/ip-pmo/index-eng.html
Alignment of Mandates
“Fisheries & Oceans Canada, Resource Restoration Program (RRP) is pleased to provide its endorsement and support for this key regional workshop and community engagement Symposium,” wrote Nick Leone in a letter of support for the Parksville 2019 Symposium.
“The focus of the Partnership for Water Sustainability remains integral to the issues and concerns faced by communities, stakeholders and government agencies linked to land and resource use planning and the management of 
water; particularly in light of emerging climate change realities.
“The issues around effective water management, and certainly as it pertains watershed planning and restoration efforts, aligns well with fisheries conservation and management considerations, including long-term water security and allocation, habitat productivity and ecosystem resiliency, and implications for Government and community-supported stock enhancement efforts.
“Fostering improved partnerships, collaboration and data/information exchange, in addition to sharing of technical and management innovations is of particular importance for land and resource use professionals and effective administration of their responsibilities.”
Restoration and Recovery
“Fisheries conservation management, inclusive of habitat restoration efforts are intrinsically linked to land and water use decisions that hold influence on natural processes and ecosystem functioning,” continued Nick Leone.
“As such, there is a need for a broader, interdisciplinary understanding and collaboration around changes in hydrological regimes (variation) in response to climate change drivers that influence natural processes shaping our watersheds.
“These influences extend to restoration and recovery potential and affect fisheries productivity. Therefore opportunities to support continued dialogue, engagement and advancements in innovation across professional disciplines and jurisdictions engaged in water management, conservation and sustainability is of vital importance and genuine benefit.”
To Learn More:
For the complete storyline, download the PARKSVILLE 2019 BROCHURE. This is a comprehensive package that maps out the field day plus 2-day symposium. Designed to paint a picture of the field day and 2-day symposium, a series of announcements have delved into the details of the cascading program to inform, educate and establish expectations. Click on the links below:
CLICK ON THIS LINK TO REGISTER: https://www.civicinfo.bc.ca/event/2019/Parksville-Water-Stewardship-Symposium JOIN US IN PARKSVILLE ON APRIL 2-3-4
