Collaborative Management
Government to Government Decision Making for Fraser Salmon
The Fraser Salmon CMA commits Canada and FSMC signatory Nations to a renewed relationship for the governance, management, and conservation of Fraser salmon based on the recognition of rights, respect, co-operation, partnership, and transformative change.
Collaborative Management Agreement (CMA)
The purpose of the Fraser Salmon CMA is to create, promote, and support government-to-government, nation-to-nation structures for the collaborative governance, management, and conservation of Fraser salmon. The CMA provides guiding principles, roles, and processes for the Executive, Fraser Salmon Management Board, and Joint Technical Committee to support Fisheries and Oceans Canada and FSMC (the Parties) in their respective decision-making authorities, responsibilities, laws, and jurisdictions as they relate to Fraser Salmon. The CMA provides a framework for government-to-government decision-making by the Parties at the “Migratory Route Scale” on prioritized salmon fishery management concerns identified in the FSMB work plan.
Collaborative Management Structure
Executive
The Executive’s role is to find solutions and make consensus decisions that support collaborative governance, management, and conservation of Fraser salmon. The executive provides the FSMB with direction and mandates for their work and undertakes dispute resolution when consensus-based recommendations and decisions cannot reached by the FSMB.
FSMC President
Associate Regional Director General
Fraser Salmon Management Board
The Fraser Salmon Management Board (FSMB) role is to make consensus decisions and recommendations to the Parties on the agreed-upon Fraser Salmon governance, fishery management, and conservation concerns. The Board screens issues to identify whether 1) they span the migratory route scale, and 2) they are issues of common concern to the Parties. They provide operational direction and oversight to the Joint Technical Committee, develop and distribute government-to-government information related to Fraser salmon, and develop and advance stakeholder processes to gather advice and recommendations for the governance, management, and conservation of Fraser salmon. They produce joint engagements and communications for distribution to First Nations, stakeholders, and the public.
FSMB 2025/26 Annual Workplan
Joint Technical Committee
The Joint Technical Committee’s (JTC) role is to collaboratively review and analyze fisheries data, western science, and Indigenous knowledge to provide the FSMB with technical information and recommendations relevant to its work plan. The JTC drafts technical memos, management actions, and communications materials for the FSMB. Refer to the following list of technical memos for information pertaining to FSMB fishery management priorities.
Technical memos for ongoing FSMB fishery management priorities:
2025 Additional Option for Fraser Sockeye Escapement Plan
2025 Fraser Chinook Summer 5(2) Information Package
2024 Review of 2019-2022 Chinook Fisheries Mortality Index (FMI) Results
2024 Fraser Chinook Run Reconstruction Review
2024 Review of Fraser Chinook In-season Run Size Estimation (scoping exercise)
2024 Review of Mark-Selective Fisheries
JTC Co-Chair Aidan Fisher
FSMC Mid Fraser
Shamus Curtis
FSMC Upper Fraser
Nicole Fredrickson,
FSMC Island & Marine Approach
Michael Staley
FSMC Lower Fraser
Marc Labelle
FSMC Mid Fraser
JTC Co-Chair Brittany Jenewein, DFO
Madeline Thomson, DFO
Anna Potapova, DFO
Kaitlyn Dionne, DFO
Maxime Veilleux, DFO
Joint Technical Working Group
The Joint Technical Working Group (JTWG) is a technical group that meets before each Fraser and Marine Approach Forum to foster awareness and understanding between First Nations and DFO on the technical issues of Fraser River Salmon Management. Biologists and resource managers from First Nations, First Nations fisheries organizations, and DFO come together to discuss the species and/or stock specific data, assumptions, and theories that were used or will be used to assess existing or proposed fishery plans and management decisions; and provide an assessment of the plans and management actions as they relate to DFO and First Nations objectives. Conclusions from those discussions may then be provided to First Nations and DFO, who may in turn use the information when discussing fishery management issues on a bilateral basis. The JTWG co-chairs provide guidance on Forum agenda planning to the FSMB and FSMC.
Kelsey Campbell
JTWG Co-Chair
Colin Schwindt
DFO
Collaborative Management Process
Meetings & Forums
The Fraser Salmon CMA process is dependent on an agreed-upon annual work plan by the Parties, which is advanced through a series of monthly FSMB meetings, bi-monthly JTC meetings, Fraser Forums, and monthly FSMC Main Table meetings.
The FSMB, with support from the JTC, works to reach consensus decisions and recommendations for the management and conservation of Fraser salmon. Tasks and engagements are aligned with DFO’s Integrated Fisheries Management Plan (IFMP) process and are intended to culminate during Fraser Forums.
Fraser Forums are a series of three DFO and First Nations gatherings hosted by the Fraser Salmon Management Council. The purpose of Fraser Forums is to bring Fraser First Nations together with DFO stock assessment biologists, resource managers, senior decision-makers, and FSMB members to share perspectives on the past season, consider pre-season plans for the next fishing season, and review feedback provided by First Nations and stakeholders on DFO’s proposed IFMP. The FSMC also utilizes Fraser Forums as an opportunity to host regional assemblies to advance the development of First Nations positions and recommendations for special projects and positions on co-governance negotiations and decisions.
Click Here to Register for 2026 Forums & Review 2026 Forum Agendas and Shared Information
Archives
Visit the Resources & Archives Page Here for More Information on:
Archived Annual reports & Communications for FSMB, JTC and FSMC
Archived Technical Information & Project Information
Archived Forum & Event Information... and more.