Environment, Fisheries & Sustainable Development

Malahat Nation’s Environment Department focuses on promoting stewardship and sustainable practices throughout the marine and terrestrial environment in the Nation’s traditional territory. The Environment Department works on a variety of projects and initiatives related to Fisheries, Sustainable Development, and Marine Stewardship

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Recent Posts

Malahat Nation partners with Safer Ocean Systems to host Marine Courses at Malahat Nation

The Government of Canada started the Marine Safety Equipment and Training (MSET) Initiative in October 2020 to respond to concerns of Indigenous communities along the Trans Mountain Expansion Project marine shipping route. The program’s goal is to improve vessel safety and provide marine safety equipment and training to First Nation community members. Malahat Nation was […]

Introducing Environment Summer Interns

In July 2022, the Malahat Environment Department welcomed three summer interns to help study aquatic habitats! Steven Henry, Amanda Harry and Dylan Harry are helping with several projects in the Environment Department. They are learning about the many important species that live in the Salish Sea, restoring sensitive habitats in Malahat marine territory, clam garden […]

Observing and Understanding Shows Us How Everything is Connected

Everything is connected. Whether the species is on land, or in the water. If it is living, and breathing…there are connections to be made within their ecosystem. You may be wondering how? But, like us! They need 4 key ingredients for a sustainable life; water, food, shelter resources, and air! With their needs now covered. We can acknowledge the diverse relationships between them, and other species.

Quiet Vessel Initiative

Loud noises in the ocean can affect underwater animals like whales. The Quiet Vessel Initiative is a Transport Canada program that will help to understand underwater sounds and make noise from boats quieter.

Malahat Ghost Gear Program

Malahat Nation is pleased to announce our part in the DFO Ghost Gear program. “Ghost” fishing gear refers to abandoned, lost, and discarded fishing debris – a leading cause of harmful impacts on fish stocks and marine mammals around the world. Over the next 3 years, Malahat will use an ROV to map ghost gear accumulation and remove ghost fishing debris from the Salish Sea, improving ocean health for all who rely on its valuable resources.

Community Crab Distribution and Science Program

Some community members have had a visit from Dwayne Goldsmith and Stephanie Spencer. They have been delivering crab, fresh caught on the Pride of Malahat boat. Dwayne and Stephanie work for the Malahat Environment Department. They are helping to track crab in Saanich Inlet. A perk of this work is that they get to deliver […]

Solar System Monitoring

Malahat Nation’s solar system was completed in February 2020. It is a 50KW photovoltaic system consisting of 222 individual panels spread out across two buildings. Funding for this system was provided from the Government of BC as a part of their CleanBC initiative. A display monitor is programmed to present up-to-the-minute details on the systems […]

A Fish Known for Its Voice

What fish sings and grunts, is nocturnal, and has the face of a frog? It is the plainfin midshipman. They are a kind of toadfish. Sometimes called the ‘roaring bullhead’ for their loud vocalizations. They are usually the size of your hand, but grow up to 50 cm or 20 inches. Recently, at the boat […]

About the Department

Malahat Nation’s Environment Department focuses on promoting stewardship and sustainable practices throughout the marine and terrestrial environment in the Nation’s traditional territory. The Environment Department works on a variety of projects and initiatives related to Fisheries, Sustainable Development, and Marine Stewardship. Fisheries The Environment Department manages commercial crab, salmon and red urchin fishing licenses, as […]