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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: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.
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:
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.
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.