West Coast of Vancouver Island Aquatic Management Board
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The West Coast Vancouver Island Aquatic Management Board is one of Canada's only co-management bodies for aquatic ecosystems. During the 1980s and 1990s, the federal government and coastal communities came to agree that a gap had to be closed; aquatic management decisions should start to include regional voices and representation, mainly coastal communities, fishermen, and First Nations.
The board is a forum for the coastal communities and other persons and bodies affected by aquatic resource management off the West Coast. Through this forum they can participate more fully with governments in all aspects of management and provide recommendations to DFO. The board includes representatives from four levels of government, including the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations. The board has been mandated to:
- - be the primary forum on aquatic resource policy specific to the management area.
- - deal with local aquatic resource policy issues with implications outside of the management area
- - be a key source of advice to decision-makers on coast-wide aquatic resource policy relating to the management area.
- - undertake integrated aquatic resource
- - management responsibilities in the management area in cooperation with the relevant government agencies.
The board makes decisions and recommendations both on the conservation of aquatic resources and input on associated economic development opportunities.
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