THIS PAGE TO BE REPLACED Cleaning up Coles Bay and the BC Coast: The Urgent Need for Federal Action to

Cleaning up Coles Bay and the BC Coast: The Urgent Need for Federal Action to Address Indigenous Shellfish Issues Page 7 of 66 Note: For a discussion of the complementary reforms required from British Columbia and Municipal governments, see our parallel submissions to the Province of British Colombia,7 and the District of North Saanich.8 7 Environmental Law Centre, Cleaning Up Coles Bay: The Urgen. [...] Cleaning up Coles Bay and the BC Coast: The Urgent Need for Federal Action to Address Indigenous Shellfish Issues Page 16 of 66 1.1.1 The Effect of Shellfish Closures on Physical Health The closure of the Coles Bay shellfishery has had profound health impacts on the Pauquachin First Nation. [...] Members shared that they “used to have [seafood] all the time” and “didn’t go to the store” – but that “it’s hard to go down there now” to harvest seafood.32 The lack of access to shellfish and other country foods has relegated the Pauquachin to a potentially less healthy Western diet – and has put the food security and health of the community at risk. [...] In essence, the beaches were the schools and community centres for the Pauquachin – and the closure of harvesting beaches has removed important opportunities for cultural knowledge transfer and revitalization.46 Decimation of a way of life like shellfishing has broad impacts on the passing on of culture. [...] Under the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program, responsibility is divided amongst the agencies: • The DFO is responsible for the enforcement of closure regulations and enacting the opening and closing of shellfish harvest areas under the authority of the Fisheries Act.