Sustainable management of the commercial sea cucumber fishery in Kitasoo/Xai'xais territory

认识到加拿大过去和现在的资源管理做法对土著人民造成的负面影响，加拿大政府目前正在最近签署的《渔业资源和解协定》的指导下，积极推动沿海原住民参与合作管理进程。Kitasoo/Xai‘xais民族长期以来一直与加拿大渔业和海洋一起参与海参的研究和监测工作，现在正正式参与指导对这一每年1300万美元的渔业的管理。虽然Kitasoo/Xai‘xais渔业方案(KXFP)继续领导正在进行的海参监测和研究项目，但最近发生的事件表明，更迫切需要扩大这些努力并调整现有的管理计划。新冠肺炎疫情在克伦图的Kitasoo/Xai‘xais社区内的经济机会有限，突显出需要加强当地现有的就业机会。商业海参渔业提供了一个这样的机会，因为它有可能在每个季节为社区提供数十个工作岗位，足以满足克伦图大约10%的成年人口的需求。然而，鉴于人们对渔业可持续性的持续担忧，这一行业对社区的持续好处并不能得到保证。这一伙伴关系的主要目标是利用我们学术研究小组的资源和技术专长，帮助回答KXFP关于海参的关键生态问题，支持他们的管理计划，并确保在他们的领土内渔业继续成功。这一伙伴关系的成功将在地方和其他地方产生许多积极的生态、社会和经济成果：在该领土内维持海参种群将有助于整个生态系统的健康；降低种群数量严重下降的风险反过来将保证社区持续的就业机会；改善对Kitasoo/Xai‘xais地区渔业的管理将为其他沿海地区提供模板，帮助确保这一有利可图的产业继续取得成功。

In recognition of the negative impacts that past and current Canadian resource management practices have had on Indigenous peoples, the Government of Canada is now actively engaging Coastal First Nations in a collaborative management process, guided by the recently signed Fisheries Resource Reconciliation Agreement (FRRA). The Kitasoo/Xai'xais Nation has long been involved in research and monitoring efforts for sea cucumbers alongside Fisheries and Oceans Canada and is now being formally engaged in directing management of this $13 million annual fishery. While the Kitasoo/Xai'xais Fisheries Program (KXFP) continues to lead ongoing sea cucumber monitoring and research projects, recent events have illuminated a more urgent need to expand these efforts and adapt existing management plans. The COVID-19 pandemic has limited economic opportunities within the Kitasoo/Xai'xais community of Klemtu, highlighting the need to strengthen existing local employment opportunities. The commercial sea cucumber fishery provides one such opportunity, as it has the potential to offer dozens of jobs each season for the community, enough for approximately 10% of the adult population in Klemtu. However, given ongoing concerns about the sustainability of the fishery, the continued benefits of this industry to the community are not guaranteed. The main goal of this partnership is to leverage the resources and technical expertise of our academic research group to help answer the key ecological questions the KXFP has about sea cucumbers, to support their management plan and ensure the continued success of the fishery within their territory. The success of this partnership will lead to numerous positive ecological, social, and economic outcomes at a local level and beyond: maintaining sea cucumber populations within the territory will contribute to overall ecosystem health; reducing the risk of severe population declines will in turn guarantee consistent employment opportunities for the community; and improving management of the fishery within Kitasoo/Xai'xais territory will provide a template for the rest of the coast, helping to ensure the continued success of this profitable industry.