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

加拿大政府认识到加拿大过去和目前的资源管理做法对土著人民产生的负面影响，目前正在最近签署的《渔业资源协调协定》的指导下，积极与沿海原住民开展合作管理进程。Kitasoo/Xai'xais Nation长期以来一直与加拿大渔业和海洋部一起参与海参的研究和监测工作，现在正正式参与指导管理这一每年1 300万美元的渔业。虽然Kitasoo/Xai'xais渔业计划（KXFP）继续领导正在进行的海参监测和研究项目，但最近的事件表明，更迫切需要扩大这些努力并调整现有的管理计划。2019冠状病毒病疫情限制了Klemtu的Kitasoo/Xai'xais社区的经济机会，凸显了加强当地现有就业机会的必要性。商业海参渔业提供了一个这样的机会，因为它有可能每个季节为社区提供数十个就业机会，足以满足Klemtu大约10%的成年人口。然而，鉴于人们对渔业可持续性的持续关注，这一行业对社区的持续利益得不到保证。该合作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，并确保其领土内渔业的持续成功。这一伙伴关系的成功将在地方一级和其他地方带来许多积极的生态、社会和经济成果：保持领土内的海参种群将有助于整体生态系统的健康;降低种群严重下降的风险将反过来保证社区持续的就业机会;改善Kitasoo/Xai'xais地区的渔业管理将为沿海其他地区提供一个模板，有助于确保这一有利可图的行业继续取得成功。

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.