Chemainus area school children took part in a release of Chum salmon fry in early May.

Many of the children called “Goodbye” as the chum fry were released on the Chemainus River at Halalt First Nation.

Tourists visiting the "Salmon People" exhibit at the Gulf of Georgia Cannery in Steveston for the next year will be lucky if they get Roberta Price as a tour guide.

The woman of Snuneymuxw and Cowichan ancestry helps visitors at the national historic site, run by Parks Canada, see the fishing history of the Coast Salish people with new eyes.

Pride of place in the display, which takes up just a fraction of the huge building, is a canoe carved and launched last year by BC’s Lieutenant Governor Steven Point.

The exhibit continues until April 30, 2012.

See photo gallery for more photos.

Stakeholders around the Strait of Georgia have until August 31 to comment on the draft strategy for the proposed marine protected area (MPA).

The MPA is a plan by the governments of Canada and BC to develop a strategy to create MPAs for the Pacific region. A phased approach to implementation is proposed that will involve all marine interests and stakeholders. Similar plans are underway in other maritime areas of the country.

The draft strategy was only released in early June and marine stakeholders were due to meet in Vancouver on June 20 for a forum on the proposals.

The MPA strategy is proposed to coordinate all existing federal and provincial marine protected area programs under a single umbrella. It commits government agencies to employ a collaborative process with First Nations, local governments, marine stakeholders, coastal communities and the public.

One local stakeholder group, the Georgia Strait Alliance, supports the strategy, at least in theory: “Creating a network of MPAs could buy us the time we need to learn to properly safeguard our amazing marine resources.”

But it has a hard-line approach. “At the very least, oil, gas and mineral exploration and development, dredging, dumping, bottom trawling and open netcage fish farming should be prohibited in every MPA,” the GSA said. “Beyond this, MPAs should include a no-take zone (closed to fishing or other harvesting) to allow fish and other animals to grow to maturity and reproduce.”

The first aboriginal certification for aquaculture in Canada has been awarded to Mainstream Canada for its operations in Ahousaht territory.

Mainstream has been certified under the new third-party standard that ensures that sustainable management of aquaculture includes First Nations values and interests.

An independent audit in March determined that Mainstream’s practices at its Clayoquot Sound site – within Ahousaht First Nation’s traditional territory – met the APSA requirements. APSA stands for Aboriginal Principles for Sustainable Aquaculture and is a standard established by the Aboriginal Aquaculture Association of Canada (AAA).

“APSA is a First Nations-driven initiative,” said Richard Harry, president of the AAA. “It ensures that aquaculture is carried out in a manner that respects First Nations’ culture, values and ensures protection of our aquatic resources.”

“It is a positive approach to all issues: social, environmental and economic. This is the first step forward to a nationally recognized aboriginal inclusive certification program.”

WANT TO TOUR A FARM? EAT SOME?

If you are near Campbell River on a Thursday this summer, you could take the BC Salmon Farmers Association up on an invitation.

“Come and see for yourself how our fish our raised and learn about the steps we take to protect our environment while meeting the growing global demand for BC salmon,” the organization said on its web site.

“We will travel through the spectacular waters of Discovery Passage to one of the operating salmon farms near Campbell River. Once on site you will meet and have the opportunity to speak with the farm staff, see how the salmon are fed and cared for and learn about farm management. A delicious lunch will be served as part of the salmon experience.”

The 4-5 hour tours began on June 16 and are scheduled every Thursday until Sept. 16.