Wild Salmon Policy Habitat & Ecosystem Status” Report for Early Stuart Sockeye

There has been worldwide attention to rebuilding species and ecosystems. With the creation of the new Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative (PSSI), DFO has committed developing rebuilding plans for prioritized salmon stocks. The Fraser Interior Area Stewardship & Partnerships (FIA S&P) group will be conducting a collaborative rebuilding planning process with Indigenous Groups and external partners for the Early Stuart sockeye stock management unit (SMU). There is also work being completed in three other areas and on the development of a standardized, horizontal approach to rebuilding planning for future use. This contract will assist in providing background information on the Early Stuart sockeye watershed’s habitat and ecosystem statuses, following guidance from the Wild Salmon Policy. This contract is for a professional report collating available data and information on Early Stuart sockeye and their habitat. The objective of the report is to provide a complete background on the historical and current condition of Early Stuart sockeye habitats and ecosystem functions. Appendix 1 provides a Table of Contents outlining the minimum requirements of the report. Pacific salmon have been declining for decades. The modernized Fisheries Act introduced the Fish Stocks Provisions (FSP) to address the decline. The federal government also created the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative (PSSI), a multi-faceted and transformational program, to assist in salmon recovery. The Integrated Rebuilding Unit (IRU) is part of the recently formed Stewardship Directorate resulting from PSSI. The work of the IRU involves developing a horizontal approach for integrated strategic planning for salmon stocks. The IRU will also be assisting Area teams with developing 4 area-based collaborative rebuilding plans for different areas in the Pacific Region. To assist in the rebuilding plan process for Early Stuart sockeye, it is imperative that background information on the ecosystem, watershed, habitat and stock be collected and succinctly collated. This contract will assist in providing background information on the watershed’s habitat and ecosystem statuses, following guidance from the Wild Salmon Policy. Both western science and Indigenous Knowledge are to be included. Review of the draft documents will include DFO and Indigenous partners (UFFCA, Takla Nation, Tl’azt’en First Nation, Nak’azdli First Nation, and other later identified First Nations). The tasks to be completed include but are not limited to the following; 3.2.1 Background research 3.2.2 Literature and document review 3.2.3 Collection and analyses of both qualitative and quantitative data compilation, synthesis and dissemination of findings 3.2.4 Development of supporting Figures and Tables 3.2.5 GIS/Mapping exercise 3.2.6 Provide progress updates with steering committee/rebuilding team as requested by the Project Authority.