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Details of Transfer Payment Programs (TPPs)


  • Aboriginal Aquatic Resource and Oceans Management
  • Aboriginal Fisheries Strategy

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Aboriginal Aquatic Resource and Oceans Management

Start date: 2005-2006

End date: Ongoing

Description: Launched in October 2004, the Aboriginal Aquatic Resource and Oceans Management (AAROM) Program provides for Capacity Building and Collaborative Management initiatives that supports the involvement of Aboriginal groups, working together, to obtain access to technical, scientific and administrative expertise in order to facilitate their participation in multi-stakeholder and other decision-making processes used to manage aquatic resources and ocean spaces.

Aboriginal groups transition from Capacity Building into Collaborative Management.

Provisions of Contribution Agreements under AAROM may include:
  • establishing AAROM collaborative management structures or AAROM bodies;
  • accessing skilled professional, administrative and technical expertise from within the Aboriginal community or other external sources but excluding public office holders;
  • participating in aquatic resource and oceans management planning — through development of resource and oceans management plans and coordination of community input into the development of plans;
  • developing or providing input into the development of models, structures and processes to guide the interactions of external bodies and agencies with the respective Aboriginal group;
  • planning and holding consultation sessions with member communities on AAROM-related issues;
  • participating in various government technical committees and other multi-stakeholder fora;
  • developing, implementing and monitoring AAROM capacity building strategies;
  • developing enforcement capacity including Aboriginal Fishery Officers and upgrading the skills of Aboriginal Guardians;
  • collaborating in scientific research efforts related to aquatic resource and oceans management;
  • participating in and providing input to various aquatic and oceans resource policy and management processes;
  • undertaking scientific research activities to support appropriate watershed/ecosystem-based management efforts, including the collection and gathering of Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge (ATK);
  • conducting community outreach, stewardship and awareness activities;
  • conducting liaison activities with other relevant/interested parties;
  • developing protocols on ATK — dealing with new and innovative approaches to collect, analyze and integrate this information into environmental and habitat assessments and management practices;
  • ongoing program planning, administration and reporting activities of the AAROM Collaborative Management body; and
  • negotiations and implementation of related AAROM agreements (and associated protocols) for which DFO is a signatory.

AAROM is applicable in areas where DFO manages the fishery, and where land claim agreements addressing those matters covered under AAROM are not in place. Where the Aboriginal group has signed a comprehensive land claims agreement, and one or more of the matters covered by the AAROM Program are not dealt with in the agreement, the group would be eligible to apply for support in those matters not covered.

Strategic Outcome: Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture

Results Achieved: In 2008-09, DFO had 11 Capacity Building Agreements, and 21 Collaborative Management Agreements and one Umbrella Agreement. These agreements encompass approximately 319 Aboriginal communities nationally as well as three Native Councils in Atlantic Canada. AAROM agreements have increased collaboration amongst Aboriginal communities and strengthened the relationship between communities and DFO. While the structure of the Collaborative Management agreements varied between Aboriginal organizations, the majority of the agreements focused on enhancing core scientific, technical and administrative capacity of the Aboriginal organizations allowing them to obtain competencies that will enable them to strengthen their ability to participate in aquatic management and oceans resources decision making. Under the AAROM program Aboriginal Organizations have created approximately 263 full time positions. AAROM has also provided approximately $9.5 million to Aboriginal Organizations for commercial access including licenses, quotas, vessels and gear.


Program Activity: Fisheries Management
($ millions)
  Actual
Spending
2006-07
Actual
Spending
2007-081
Planned
Spending
2008-09
Total
Authorities
2008-09
Actual
Spending
2008-09
Variance(s)
Total Grants
Total Contributions 14.7 25.8 22.8 16.2 16.2 6.6
Total Other Types of Transfer Payments
Total Program Activity(ies) 14.7 25.8 22.8 16.2 16.2 6.6

1 The figure for Actual Spending for 2007-08 in the 2007-08 DPR was incorrect ($25.6 million). The correct amount ($25.8 million) is reported here.

Comment(s) on Variance(s): Variance is due to re-profile of Atlantic Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative of $4.99 million and movement between AFS and AAROM.

Audit Completed or Planned: An evaluation is planned for 2013-14.


 


Name of Transfer Payment Program: Aboriginal Fisheries Strategy

Start date: 1992

End date: Ongoing

Description: Launched in 1992, the Aboriginal Fisheries Strategy (AFS) provides for negotiated arrangements with Aboriginal groups around the harvesting, use and management of Aboriginal food, social and ceremonial fisheries and, where applicable, communal commercial fisheries.

In 1994, DFO introduced a commercial access component to the AFS, the Allocation Transfer Program (ATP). The ATP facilitates the voluntary retirement of commercial fishing licences and the issuance of communal licences to eligible Aboriginal groups in a manner that does not add to the existing effort on the resource.

Provisions of negotiated fisheries agreements under the AFS may include:

  • a harvest allocation to the Aboriginal group for FSC purposes;
  • terms and conditions pertaining to communal fishing licences;
  • enforcement provisions, including the training and engagement of Aboriginal Fisheries Guardians;
  • arrangements for the co-management and stewardship of fisheries resources and their supporting habitats, including the restoration and protection of species at risk;
  • co-management projects for the improvement of the management of fisheries generally, such as scientific research, stock assessment, fish enhancement and habitat management; and
  • communal commercial fishing arrangements including the transfer of vessels and gear as well as support for fisheries-related economic opportunities (e.g., demonstration fishery projects, aquaculture development, business planning support, etc.).

Where Agreements pertaining to the FSC Fisheries cannot be concluded between DFO and an Aboriginal group, DFO will issue to the group a communal fishing licence that establishes the terms and conditions of its FSC fishery.

The AFS is applicable where DFO manages the fishery and where a fisheries management regime has not already been established under a land claims settlement.

Strategic Outcome: Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture

Results Achieved: In 2008-2009, DFO entered into approximately 140 AFS Agreements with Aboriginal organizations in all DFO regions. These agreements facilitated economic opportunities as well as Aboriginal participation in the management of their fisheries and other aquatic resource management.

Regarding economic development, DFO acquired 22 Commercial licences in Quebec and Pacific Regions and approximately $2M woth of Halibut Quota in the Pacific Region. In addition DFO provided approximately $1.2M for the acquisition of vessels and gear.

AFS agreements provided for management of the FSC fisheries, largely through the Guardian program which comprised of the enforcement component. In 2008 and 2009, 76 Guardians were retrained by DFO to upgrade skills in carrying out enforcement functions, i.e.; issuing warnings, inspecting fish and gear, catch monitoring.

Participation in other aquatic resource management activities included co-management and science related activities such as stock assessment, fish enhancement, counting fences, habitat related work, and river/stream/brook improvement projects.

These economic related and aquatic management activities from AFS agreements created approximately 1,600 seasonal jobs in areas described above.


Program Activity: Fisheries and Aquaculture Management
($ millions)
  Actual
Spending
2006-07
Actual
Spending
2007-082
Planned
Spending
2008-09
Total
Authorities
2008-09
Actual
Spending
2008-09
Variance(s)
Total Grants
Total Contributions 32.2 32.9 57.3 60.5 58.3 (1.0)
Total Other Types of Transfer Payments
Total Program Activity(ies) 32.2 32.9 57.3 60.5 58.3 (1.0)

2 The figure for Actual Spending for 2007-08 in the 2007-08 DPR was incorrect ($32.5 million). The correct amount ($32.9 million) is reported here.

Comment(s) on Variance(s): Variance is due to movement between AAROM and AFS.

Audit Completed or Planned: The audit of the Aboriginal Fisheries Strategy was approved by the Departmental Audit Committee in November 2007. An evaluation is planned for 2013-14.