Presentation to Pacific Salmon Forum

1
Presentation to Pacific Salmon Forum

• Nanaimo
• April 29, 2008

2
Salmonid Enhancement Program

• SEP Program Overview
• Program Evolution
• Funding
• Challenges
• Provincial Partnership
• Indicators of Success
• Future Direction

3
SEP Program Overview

• Fish Production
• Annual releases of 400M juvenile salmon
• 22 SEP operated facilities and managed spawning
  channels (14 major hatcheries)
• 21 contracted community and First Nation operated
  facilities (CEDP)
• Production support to conservation and
  sustainable fisheries objectives
• Current spending 19.5M

• Public Involvement
• 18 Community Advisors
• Partnering and Stewardship
• Education and Awareness (e.g. Stream to Sea
  program)
• 10,000 volunteers
• 300 small scale volunteer projects (incl. 170
  hatchery / incubation projects)
• Balanced focus - conservation, stewardship,
  enhancement
• Current Spending 3.2M

• Habitat Restoration
• 70 restoration projects with community,
  corporate and FN partners (leveraging 5M)
• Enhanced fish habitat / fish production to
  support salmon recovery
• Watershed planning
• Current spending 3M

Total Budget 25.7M
4
SEP Program Overview

• Provides employment and capacity development in
  aboriginal and rural communities
• A generation of school children educated about
  salmon and the aquatic environment
• Over 10,000 volunteers assist with restoration
  and enhancement activities
• SEP assessment programs used as indicators for
  wild salmon stock assessments

• Initiated in 1977 original objective of
  doubling fish production and plans to move to
  cost recovery
• 80 of SEP production supports fishing
  opportunities for First Nation, recreational and
  commercial harvesters
• SEP projects account for 10-15 of total First
  Nation, recreational and commercial harvest
• Significant infrastructure investment in
  communities across the province

High Public Awareness
Red dots are locations of SEP related
facilities / CEDP projects
5
SEP Program Evolution
2007.25.7M operating program 600k outstanding
legacy debt, limited flexibility to address new
priorities program focus to address strategic
challenges
2002-06 Continued Program Uncertainty
additional program reductions (5M legacy debt)
2006 DMC approval of 5M relief
2000 Public Consultations / WSP / New
Directions. Integrated watershed based
planning strategic enhancement for conservation
/ rebuilding
1977
1990
1994
2000
2007
1998
2002
1998-02 CFAR / Program Integration Period - 70m
over 5 years 30M endowment fund increasing
focus on proactive measures and soft
enhancement, conservation, habitat restoration,
stewardship, program integration, integrated
planning, strategic stock enhancement / coho
rebuilding organizational integration with
habitat
1994-97 Program Review Period - A-base
reduction production cuts / closure of
facilities (7) decentralization of program
1990 - Development Phase Complete program in
full operation 39M no new development
production focused on harvest (heavy focus on
cost/benefit)
1977 Program Initiation - Original objective to
double fish production and move to full cost
recovery Provincial partner
6
SEP Funding

• SEP Legacy Debt
• 5 Million funding shortfall reduced to 0.6M
• Annual SEP Expenditures
• 25.7 M operating budget has been stable
• incl. 0.6 Legacy debt
• 5 M leveraged funds from Partners
  (habitat)
• 1.0 M facility maintenance
• 2.6 M employee benefits plan (ebp)
• Major Capital for infrastructure
• Minor Capital

7
SEP Challenges

• Infrastructure
• Aging, 30 year facilities
• Major and minor capital planning
• Real Property Technical Services RRs
• Fiscal
• High fixed facility infrastructure costs
• Increasing operating costs (inflation)
• Very limited flexibility to respond to new
  priorities
• Developing improved planning processes to make
  the best use of available resources
• Recognize significant partnership funding and
  volunteer activity

8
Provincial Partnership with SEP

• Ongoing cooperative program with BC since
  inception of SEP
• Provincial policy for hatchery steelhead and
  anadromous cutthroat trout is production for
  harvest, not conservation
• Production targets set by BC MOE (FFSBC)
• Production of steelhead and cutthroat trout at
  SEP facilities is subject to availability of SEP
  resources

9
SEP Indicators of Success

• Immediate Outcomes
• Salmon populations rebuilt for conservation
• Salmon production for harvest in Fisheries
• Fish habitat improved and restored to sustain
  salmon populations
• Public is aware of the need to conserve and
  protect fish and fish habitat, and actively
  participates in stewardship
• First Nations and local communities are provided
  capacity development opportunities

10
SEP Direction

• DFO will update SEP to ensure the program remains
  relevant and effective, and adapts to new
  challenges and priorities. This will occur over
  several years but no major change in SEPs goals
  are foreseen. SEPs multiple goals are still
  seen as valid.
• Continued focus on the 5 immediate outcomes
• Wild Salmon Policy direction 1st priority
  rebuild red/amber stocks 2nd priority support
  harvest opportunities where identified in
  strategic plans. The mix of SEP fish production
  activities may change over time in response to
  conservation / rebuilding demands.