Shellfish Initiative

We have been visiting communities and nations around British Columbia (BC) to listen and understand how we can learn, support, and act in addressing the community's greatest needs around water quality.

2024 marks the launch of our project: monitoring water quality focused on shellfish harvesting in areas around Vancouver Island and the Central Coast.

Traditional shellfish harvesting areas have been closed for reasons ranging from septic pollution to a lack of water monitoring.

These areas are not being prioritized by the three governing bodies - Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) - who decide when to provide and restrict access to the local community members. Together, these three ministries are responsible for the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program (CSSP).

Nations and communities around BC are being deprived of their food sovereignty, and basic information about what needs to be done to improve water quality if deemed a problem.

Over the years of our work advocating for swimmable, drinkable, and fishable waters, we’ve gained a strong understanding of navigating government departments. It’s been made clear that the people in these areas are some of the most passionate advocates of our lands and waters. Unfortunately, the siloed systems of government create unnecessary red tape, too often.

The goal of this project is to increase attention to shellfish harvesting and water quality through water monitoring.

Our monitoring will not reopen these areas overnight, we understand that. But it will start to bring more of a focus on the lack of attention being paid to it by our leaders. These Nations and communities have been harvesting shellfish since time immemorial. So, as treaty people, it is our responsibility to do the work, both on the water and in the legislature, to make sure we’ll listen to the true stewards of these lands, water and culture.