Campbell River is drawing praise from the Canadian government for its part in enhancing the salmon industry but still awaits a verdict on the fate of a key fisheries advisor position.
Gail Shea, minister of fisheries and oceans, praised the city in a letter to council.
“I appreciate the excellent work that Campbell River stewardship groups have successfully undertaken over the years and the high levels of commitment and dedication to the salmon resource demonstrated by these organizations,” Shea wrote. “I also appreciate the support to salmon stewardship and local aquatic habitat conservation exhibited by the City of Campbell River.”
Shea’s comments come in response to a letter written in November by city council to Shea which asked the minister to keep a Fisheries and Oceans Canada advisory position in the Campbell River area.
But while commending the city on its stewardship programs, Shea did not make any guarantees with respect to the community advisor role.
“I agree that the support of a community advisor is integral to the success of stewardship groups such as your own,” Shea said. “Accordingly, I am pleased to inform you that DFO SEP (Salmonid Enhancement Program) officials are currently carrying out a process to form a pool of qualified candidates that can be used to staff community advisor positions in British Columbia.”
But Shea did not say for certain where in B.C. those positions would be located, only that candidates have completed initial screening and written exams and have moved into the interview process.
Campbell River has had the benefit of a community advisor, with four acting and intermittent advisors since 2012.
There are four community advisor positions across B.C. that are either currently vacant or are expected to be vacant due to retiring staff in the near future.
The community advisors play an important role in supporting both municipalities and local stewardship programs in habitat restoration and protection projects.
In Campbell River, the community advisor works closely with Greenways Land Trust and the various stream stewardship groups and is the main point of contact between Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the local environment groups.
Shea said Campbell River’s efforts are in line with Fisheries and Oceans’ mandate.
“DFO (Department of Fisheries and Oceans) also places a high value on the work of salmon stewardship groups in British Columbia, which it supports through the Salmonid Enhancement Program’s Community Involvement and Resource Restoration programs.”