IMAWG Calendar List

Quarterly Board Meetings for IMAWG Executives

The Island Marine Aquatic Working Group (IMAWG) is a First Nations collaborative that brings together 15 member First Nations from the Coast Salish, Nuu-chah-nulth, and Kwakwaka’wakw language areas on and around Vancouver Island. Its role is to support Firss Nations right based fisheries by providing a forum for collaboration, technical advice, information sharing. IMAWG itself is not a rights-holding or decision-making body; instead, it helps Nations coordinate, develop informed positions, and engage more effectively in fisheries co-management discussions.

ALL NATIONS WELCOME AND ENCOURGAGED TO ATTEND

The purpose of this meeting is to:

• Share the latest fisheries science, technical information, and policy updates.
• Discuss issues, priorities, and concerns among Indigenous organizations.
• Develop advice, recommendations, and a coordinated regional perspective.
• Prepare for future discussions with DFO and other governments during Tier Two and Tier Three meetings.

IMAWG meetings are intended to create a safe space for First Nation organizations to:

• Build a unified approach to fisheries management.
• Review scientific, technical, and traditional knowledge.
• Identify priorities and develop collective recommendations.
• Strengthen participation in fisheries co-management.
• Ensure Nations are well-informed before engaging directly with DFO.

DFO has scheduled this Tier 2 meeting in one coastwidemeeting for Wednesday, October 7, 2026. The draft agenda will be providedcloser to the meeting date. 

Hong Tjhie(He/him)

Regional Herring Officer | Agent Régional du Hareng

Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches etOcéans Canada

E: Hong.Tjhie@dfo-mpo.gc.ca | C: 236-330-3240

Government of Canada | Gouvernementdu Canada

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Microsoft Teams meeting

Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/241390478331160?p=WtdwStSnIDy3lV06tD

Meeting ID: 241 390 478 331 160

Passcode: P8Zs7Y7o

Hong Tjhie (He/him)

RegionalHerring Officer | Agent Régional du Hareng

Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada

E: Hong.Tjhie@dfo-mpo.gc.ca | C: 236-330-3240

Government of Canada | Gouvernement du Canada

________________________________________________________________________________

Microsoft Teams meeting

Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/247429735844367?p=EhfP63OejscLF7yiLM

Meeting ID: 247 429 735 844 367

Passcode: pw9dM9iq

The Island Marine Aquatic Technical (IMAT) Technical Meeting is a Tier Two working group session hosted by the Island Marine Aquatic Working Group (IMAWG) that brings together Vancouver Island First Nations technical staff and biologists with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) science staff and other invited partners and guests. The meeting focuses on collaboratively reviewing the best available science and technical information to support improved fisheries conservation/management with foundation of supporting First Nations rights based fisheries.

Objectives

The meeting has two primary objectives:

• Build a collaborative technical partnership between IMAWG/IMAT, First Nations biologists and technical staff, DFO scientists and others.
• Jointly analyze technical information to develop advice and recommendations for First Nations and DFO fishery managers that improve conservation, sustainability, and First Nations access to fisheries.

Brief Description

The meeting provides a forum for technical experts to review current research, stock assessment data, and fisheries management issues, and other applicable information affecting species populations. Topics include:

• Assessing stock abundance and biomass data.
• Reviewing scientific literature.
• Discussing new information to management approaches and post-season reviews.
• Examining impacts on fisheries management effecting populations.
• Identifying opportunities for collaborative research and projects between First Nations and partners.

The overall purpose is to combine First Nations knowledge, technical expertise, and modern science to support evidence-based recommendations for sustainability and co-management of resources. 

More information to come.

More information to come.

Earths' changing climate and environmental stressors presentglobal problems for the sustainability of marine ecosystems and management ofmarine resources. Scientists, policy makers, Indigenous peoples, andcommunities, at regional, national and international scales, must work togetherto identify the best pathway to take care of the ocean. This includesdeveloping actionable science through interdisciplinary and transboundaryresearch, the inclusion of human dimensions in research and management, and theinclusion of policy and regulatory decision makers in science processes tobridge the science/policy interface. Interdisciplinary science collaboration isneeded to understand complex issues, such as the impacts of climate extremes onmarine resources and coastal communities, cumulative impacts of multiplestressors, changes in biodiversity, and the effectiveness of marine protectedareas. Recent advancements in research and monitoring tools, artificialintelligence, as well as social and economic -oriented investigations showpromise in improving our understanding of marine ecosystems and our ability toresolve socioeconomic and environmental conflicts. Key is the communication ofscience, along with uncertainty and risk, to policy and decision makers. Researchby PICES expert groups can feed into actionable science, such as projections,status assessments, and solution-based science. The PICES 2026 annual sciencemeeting will bring together early, mid, and late- career ocean professionals todiscuss, develop, and advance science that is actionable for a rapidly changing

https://meetings.pices.int/about  general info

Science program

https://meetings.pices.int/meetings/annual/2026/PICES/Program 

Early bird registration by June 30^th 250cad, after300

https://meetings.pices.int/meetings/annual/2026/PICES/registration

Earths' changing climate and environmental stressors presentglobal problems for the sustainability of marine ecosystems and management ofmarine resources. Scientists, policy makers, Indigenous peoples, andcommunities, at regional, national and international scales, must work togetherto identify the best pathway to take care of the ocean. This includesdeveloping actionable science through interdisciplinary and transboundaryresearch, the inclusion of human dimensions in research and management, and theinclusion of policy and regulatory decision makers in science processes tobridge the science/policy interface. Interdisciplinary science collaboration isneeded to understand complex issues, such as the impacts of climate extremes onmarine resources and coastal communities, cumulative impacts of multiplestressors, changes in biodiversity, and the effectiveness of marine protectedareas. Recent advancements in research and monitoring tools, artificialintelligence, as well as social and economic -oriented investigations showpromise in improving our understanding of marine ecosystems and our ability toresolve socioeconomic and environmental conflicts. Key is the communication ofscience, along with uncertainty and risk, to policy and decision makers. Researchby PICES expert groups can feed into actionable science, such as projections,status assessments, and solution-based science. The PICES 2026 annual sciencemeeting will bring together early, mid, and late- career ocean professionals todiscuss, develop, and advance science that is actionable for a rapidly changing

https://meetings.pices.int/about  general info

Science program

https://meetings.pices.int/meetings/annual/2026/PICES/Program 

Early bird registration by June 30^th 250cad, after300

https://meetings.pices.int/meetings/annual/2026/PICES/registration