For many indigenous peoples, utilization of fish and other aquatic resources continues to be a way of life that provides values such as spiritual, subsistence, and commercial.  However, resource depletion and environmental impacts now threaten the traditional foods and cultures of indigenous peoples around the world.  The UBC Aboriginal Fisheries Research Unit conducts basic and applied research to address biological questions directed towards indigenous people’s aquatic resources.  The Aboriginal Fisheries Research Unit and Indigenous communities identify biological questions and provide answers that communities need to better manage their fisheries and other aquatic resources. 

Goal:

Our goal is to develop and maintain a unit that integrates traditional knowledge, aquatic ecology, fish biology, including physiology, and to use these tools to benefit indigenous people’s resource management.

Objectives:

• Conduct cutting-edge research relevant to indigenous fishery resources and community needs.
• Train students to build science and management capacity in indigenous communities.
• Advance knowledge by publishing research findings.