NATIONAL ABORIGINAL FISHERIES FORUM II "Seize the Economic Opportunities" NAFF II Final Report December 2012 T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S Executive Summary ………………………………………………… 1 1.0 NAFF Background .………………………………………………….. 5 2.0 NAFF II Terms of Reference .………………………………………. 7 2.1 Background ………………………………………………………… 7 2.2 Guiding Principles …………………………………………………. 9 3.0 NAFF II Presentations and Sessions.……………….……………. 11 3.1 Opening …………………………………………………………….. 11 3.2 Industry Overview …………………………………………………. 12 3.3 Wild Capture Concurrent Session Training & Skills Development 13 3.4 Wild Capture Concurrent Session: Marketing …………………. 14 3.5 Aquaculture Concurrent Session………………………………… 15 3.6 Banquet …………………………………………………………….. 23 3.7 Attracting Investment ……………………………………………… 24 3.8 NAFF II Concluding Session ……………………………………... 25 4.0 Lessons Learned ……………………………………………………… 26 5.0 Observations and Findings …………………………………………… 27 6.0 Appendices …………………………………………………………….. 32 Appendix “A” - Working Group & Steering Committee Members Appendix “B” - Working Group Purpose, Mandate & Objectives Appendix “C” - NAFFII Agenda Appendix “D” - Conference Materials Appendix “E” – Presentations and Bios Appendix “F” – Aquaculture Links Appendix “G” - Evaluation Summary Appendix “H” – Acronym Glossary EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The second National Aboriginal Fisheries Forum (NAFF II) was held from October 2 - 4, 2012 in Nanaimo, British Columbia. The theme for NAFF II was “Seize the Economic Opportunities” and the key focus areas were: training & skills development, aquaculture, marketing and attracting investment. The Strategic Partnership Initiative of the Federal Framework for Aboriginal Economic Development and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) provided the main funding for NAFF II with secondary sponsorship received from numerous other donators identified in Appendix C, Agenda (page 8). There were five Co-hosts of NAFF II: First Nations Fisheries Council of British Columbia, Assembly of First Nations, Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat, Aboriginal Aquaculture Association and Native Brotherhood of British Columbia. A Working Group chaired by the hosting organization’s executive Director, Jordan Point, and comprised of the other First nation co-hosts along with DFO and AANDC representatives carried out the planning of NAFF II. A facilitation team assisted the NAFF II Working Group. The overall process and planning was also guided by a broad Steering Committee that included participation of many organizations and government agencies from across the country. NAFF II was held at the Vancouver Island Figure 1 – Honourable Keith Ashfield Minister of Convention Centre in Nanaimo, BC and there were Fisheries and Oceans 1 over 300 delegates registered along with over 40 presenters and 30 exhibitors. NAFF II was opened by the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans followed by National AFN Chief Shawn Atleo (via video). The NAFF II agenda provided broad overviews of the wild capture and aquaculture sectors across the country and followed with a keynote address, specific presentations, panel discussions and discussions periods on each of the four key themes. There was also a speakers corner, open microphone sessions and evaluation forms for delegates to provide additional feedback. Participants have found utility in coming together regularly to work on issues and challenges related to making Aboriginal fisheries and aquaculture viable and economically important for their home communities. Participants in both NAFF I and II came from all regions of Canada and all shared their experience and collected relevant information from presentation and speakers as part of the conference program. Program details are contained within the body of this summary report. Presentations for NAFF II included marketing and branding, vessel safety and performance regulations and consideration of capital requirements both for fleet renewal and shore side infrastructure – elements common to all wild capture fisheries in Canada. NAFF II included a full day session on aquaculture activities and opportunities for Aboriginal communities across the country. Topics covered all aspects of the development of aquaculture including markets and profitable species, technology and regulations. Discussion also included skills development and retention as well as 2 attracting investment (for highlights and summary, see section 3.5). By all accounts NAFF II was as successful as NAFF I. The day 2 Banquet Keynote speaker tribal Chairman Brian Cladoosby from the Swinomish tribe in Washington State challenged delegates to take the NAFF process one step further by attending a follow up session provisionally set for 2013 in Washington. The main findings emanating from the discussions are that to move forward on the issues raised at NAFF II parties should: 1. Ensure safety training, skills development and business planning for both wild capture and aquaculture fisheries continues to be a priority for the Aboriginal communities and governments. Atlantic Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative (AICFI) and Pacific Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative (PICFI) play an important role in this area but it will also be necessary to ensure that there is some coordination with programs that support these activities in the north and central parts of the country; 2. Support product differentiation and branding that will lead to niche markets for a variety of products from Aboriginal fisheries and aquaculture. Organizations should work with Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada (AAFC) to further explore opportunities in both the wild capture and aquaculture fisheries; 3. Recognize that Aboriginal communities and organizations want to be proactively and meaningfully engaged in the development of aquaculture policy and in the management of aquaculture and aquatic species in their traditional territories; 3 4. Develop an action plan for Aboriginal aquaculture economic development to provide a focus for the training and skills development, site access and investment capital necessary to support enhanced aquaculture activity across the country; 5. Work together to attract investment and operating capital sufficient to support the current and future Aboriginal activities in the wild capture and aquaculture fisheries. 6. Encourage and work with Aboriginal communities to explore innovative ideas such as risk pooling and attracting impact investors that were raised at NAFF II. Partnerships between Aboriginal communities and non-Aboriginal interests in both wild capture and aquaculture fisheries should be encouraged. 7. Encourage parties to explore partnerships between Aboriginal communities and non-Aboriginal interests in both wild capture and aquaculture fisheries. 4 1.0 BACKGROUND The National Aboriginal Fisheries Forum II (NAFF II) built upon the results of the initial National Aboriginal Fisheries Forum which was held in Halifax in March, 2011. NAFF I brought together 150 representatives to review all aspects of the “business of fishing” and included Aboriginal groups from all parts of the country. A wide range of subjects were discussed and NAFF concluded that additional discussion and review was needed on four topics: training/skills development, aquaculture, marketing and attracting investment. The full report of NAFF I is available on the web site of the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat at www.apcfnc.ca/fisheries. The 18 months since NAFF I has seen considerable activity continue in the realm of Aboriginal fisheries and aquaculture across the country. This continued activity has also resulted in pressures in several areas; some resource and market weakness, training and capital requirements and further discussion on the role of aquaculture. Under the aegis of the National Aquaculture Strategic Action Plan Initiative (NASAPI) DFO initiated an Aboriginal Aquaculture Engagement Initiative (AAEI) to further explore opportunities available to First Nations and Aboriginal communities. Work commenced in 2011 and in March 2012, it was expanded to include broader dialogue sessions with Aboriginal communities. In British Columbia, the Cohen Commission on Fraser River sockeye received widespread press coverage, resulting in heightened discussion on aquaculture issues. In January, 2012 the Crown – First Nations Gathering provided an impetus to move forward on the economic agenda for First Nations and in March both the AICFI and PICFI programs were extended for an additional year. 5 In February, the NAFF Working Group met to begin the planning for NAFF II. The Working Group was responsible for the planning and development of NAFF II and met via teleconference every two weeks and in person on four occasions. The Working Group was guided by a broader Steering Committee that met via teleconference on four occasions. The theme chosen for the Forum was “Seize the Economic Opportunities” and the aim was to build on the commitments coming out of the Crown – First Nations Gathering. Fisheries and Oceans Canada and The Strategic Partnerships Initiative of the Federal Framework for Aboriginal Economic Development provided funding for NAFF II. The co- hosts were the First Nations Fisheries Council of BC, Assembly of First Nations, Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs, Aboriginal Aquaculture Association and the Native Brotherhood of BC. While the federal government made a significant financial contribution for NAFF II private sponsorship was necessary to meet the full conference