On November 26 and 27, the FNHA will be hosting Safe Shellfish Solutions, an event intended to bring together coastal First Nations and the WATCH network for conversations on the future of the WATCH project.
The We All Take Care of the Harvest (WATCH) is a seafood and climate change project co-designed and led by pilot First Nations communities and the WATCH Network from August 2020 to March 2024. This year is in transition to determining its future use.
The purpose of the pilot was to help communities access timely safety information for important marine foods, plan for climate impacts affecting marine foods, and promote seafood safety, security, and sovereignty for coastal First Nations. The transition period is focused on identifying key priorities, areas of expansion, and sustainable programs and services.
The WATCH Project four goals:
Goal 1 - Assist First Nations communities in establishing programs to monitor toxin-producing phytoplankton.
Goal 2 - Help increase First Nations access to shellfish biotoxin testing.
Goal 3 - Provide shared learning opportunities for climate and health topics related to marine foods.
Goal 4 - Develop a climate and health risk assessment focused on marine foods.
Safe Shellfish Solutions will be a two-day online (Zoom) and in-person event at Vancouver Island University's Deep Bay Marine Field Station (370 Crome Road, Bowser, Vancouver Island) on November 26 and 27, 2024.
To register, complete this form. First Nations members and staff will be prioritized for in-person attendance. The afternoon of Nov. 27 will be reserved for First Nations members, staff, and note-takers, both in-person and online. Registrants will be contacted on or before Nov. 4 regarding in-person attendance and Zoom links.
If you would like more information on the four goals related to the WATCH project or other information, please contact project lead Holly Clermont at watch-project@fnha.ca.
