Haida Marine Traditional Knowledge Study Volume 2: Seascape Unit Summary Prepared for: Council of the Haida Nation by: Haida Marine Traditional Knowledge Study Participants, Janet Winbourne, and Haida Oceans Technical Team, Haida Fisheries Program August 18, 2011 Haida Marine Traditional Knowledge Study Participants Massett Skidegate Wesley Bell Diane Brown Oliver Bell Judson Brown John Bennett Conrad Collinson Robert Bennett Dempsey Collinson Robin Brown Willie Davies Stephen Brown Ernie Gladstone Vince Collison Tommy Greene Ernest Davis Tom Hans Robert (Tubby) Davis Herb Jones BJ Dudoward Roy Jones Sr. Dean & Madeline Edgars David Martynuik Margaret Edgars Roberta Olson Timmy Edgars Paul Pearson Henry Hageman Vince Pearson Francis Ingram Wally Pelton Claude Jones Jack Pollard Kelly Jones Wally Pollard Reynold and June Russ Norman Price Willie Russ Jr. Ed Russ Edgar Sills Frank Russ Monte Stewart-Burton Gary Russ Mary Swanson Gladys Vandal Judy Williams Harvey Williams Martin Williams Percy Williams Rolly Williams Bert Wilson Vern Williams Sr. Ernie Wilson Richard Wilson (Captain Gold) Lonnie Young Companion Reports: Volume 1: Methods and Results Summary Volume 3: Focal Species Summary Front cover photos (clockwise from top left): Skidegate verification sessions – Melinda Pick; Sunset off Skedans – Lynn Lee; Haida salmon fishing fleet at Henslung Cove – Henry Hageman; Haida Marine Work Group meeting – Dolly Garza; Red urchins – Lynn Lee. Back cover: Storm clouds, east coast Graham Island – Janet Winbourne. All other photos Haida Oceans Technical Team unless noted. Table of Contents Table of Contents ................................................................................i Table of Figures ................................................................................. iii Introduction .......................................................................................1 LIMITATIONS ................................................................................................................................................................. 3 1. Masset Inlet ..................................................................................4 SUMMARY OF IDENTIFIED SPECIES AND FEATURES: ............................................................................................................... 4 HAIDA ACTIVITIES .......................................................................................................................................................... 4 Seasonal movement patterns and activities throughout seascape unit ........................................................... 4 Introduction to Key Resource Uses ..................................................................................................................... 7 CURRENT ISSUES AND CONCERNS ................................................................................................................................... 12 Salmon Fisheries ................................................................................................................................................ 12 River Food Fisheries ................................................................................................................................................ 12 Commercial Salmon Fisheries................................................................................................................................. 13 Groundfish Populations ..................................................................................................................................... 16 Shellfish Declines ............................................................................................................................................... 17 Issues Summary and Stewardship Suggestions ................................................................................................ 18 2. Skidegate Inlet ............................................................................ 19 SUMMARY OF IDENTIFIED SPECIES AND FEATURES: ............................................................................................................. 19 HAIDA ACTIVITIES ........................................................................................................................................................ 19 Seasonal movement patterns and activities throughout seascape unit ......................................................... 19 Introduction to Key Resource Uses ................................................................................................................... 22 CURRENT ISSUES AND CONCERNS ................................................................................................................................... 26 Declines in Forage Fish/Herring Populations.................................................................................................... 26 Salmon Fisheries ................................................................................................................................................ 28 Trends..................................................................................................................................................................... 29 Groundfish Populations ..................................................................................................................................... 33 Shellfish Declines ............................................................................................................................................... 35 Nesting Seabird Populations ............................................................................................................................. 37 Issues Summary and Stewardship Suggestions ................................................................................................ 37 3. Dixon Entrance ............................................................................ 38 Summary of identified species and features: ....................................................................................................... 38 HAIDA ACTIVITIES ....................................................................................................................................................... 38 Seasonal movement patterns and activities throughout seascape unit ......................................................... 38 Introduction to Key Resource Uses ................................................................................................................... 41 CURRENT ISSUES AND CONCERNS ................................................................................................................................... 42 Salmon Fisheries ................................................................................................................................................ 42 Groundfish Populations ..................................................................................................................................... 45 Shellfish Declines ............................................................................................................................................... 48 Nesting Seabird Populations ............................................................................................................................. 50 Marine Mammals .............................................................................................................................................. 51 Volume 2. i Issues Summary and Stewardship Suggestions ................................................................................................ 52 4. Hecate North and South .............................................................. 54 SUMMARY OF IDENTIFIED SPECIES AND FEATURES: ............................................................................................................. 54 HAIDA ACTIVITIES ........................................................................................................................................................ 54 Seasonal movement patterns and activities throughout seascape unit ......................................................... 54 Introduction to Key Resource Uses ................................................................................................................... 57 CURRENT ISSUES AND CONCERNS ................................................................................................................................... 59 Declines in Forage Fish/Herring Populations.................................................................................................... 60 Salmon Fisheries ................................................................................................................................................ 60 Copper Bay Taaxid.................................................................................................................................................. 64 Marine Mammals .............................................................................................................................................. 65 Nesting Seabird Populations ............................................................................................................................. 65 Proposed Windfarm .......................................................................................................................................... 66 Groundfish Populations ....................................................................................................................................