Between 1985 and 1995, government agencies and interest groups interacted in a recurring cycle of moratoria and reviews in attempts to resolve a wide variety of environmental, economic and social concerns about salmon farming while making policies to manage the development of the new industry in British Columbia. Using policy community theory, this thesis analyzes how the community members developed the salmon farming policy framework. Then, drawing on the recommendations that were already advanced by aquaculture planners from the early 1980s, the thesis evaluates the policy framework that exists today. Depending upon their power resources and their position within the policy community, the members of the community used different methods to influence the policy process. The members of the sub-government maintained the status quo by using methods such as restricting the access for interest groups to the policy process and limiting the flow of information to the attentive public. The members of the attentive public increased their power by forming coalitions and putting forward a common policy statement to the public and government. Maintaining the status quo became difficult when the New Democratic Party (NDP) government came to power. In revising provincial environmental policies , the NDP changed the relative influence of the government agencies in the sub government. These changes increased conflict among agencies which the government addressed by undertaking an environmental assessment and a public policy review. The B.C. salmon farming policy community is identified as a pressure pluralist community which emerges when jurisdictional responsibility is fragmented among a number of agencies and no mediating mechanism exists to bring together the members of the community. As a result , the community tends to make short term policy and functions without a long term strategy. The thesis concludes with six recommendations designed to increase the access and input of all those who want to participate in the policy process, to address the diversity of issues raised within the policy community, to insure social accountability when interest groups implement policy , and to fill the gaps in the existing policy framework.

The principal focus of this comparative-historical study is the fundamental differences in the perspectives of the Indian, commercial, and sportfishing user groups. A second focus is the differences in outlook of the professions involved in the management of the fisheries, and how their management paradigms have developed over time. Evidence is presented on the social history of the fisheries, including their regulatory history and the manager-user relationship. Using the rich material presented by the participants in the Pearse Commission as a primary source, the perspectives of user and manager are outlined. In particular, the views users expressed on the emotional policy issue of TURFs are defined. A comparison of these views clarifies the major interests within the fisheries. Observation of the interactions between the user groups and regulatory authorities, both during and after the Commission, reveals the ability of these interest groups to lobby very effectively within the Canadian democratic system. The major social conflicts within the fisheries that are representative of the importantly different perspectives are: culture conflict, sportfishing/commercial fishing conflict, political ideological conflict, and conflict between profession frames. The most serious conflict is between Indians and other resource users. Indians have sought legal recognition of existing aboriginal rights in fishing, involving increased allocations to Indian users; other users greatly fear displacement as the resources are reallocated. As independent "co-management" planning procedures are being carried on simultaneously between Indian bands and government, and between commercial and sport groups and government, the objectives of the two often conflict. The result is a management and allocation process that remains extremely volatile and subject to such intensive lobbying that rational planning is difficult. The fisheries management and planning process could benefit from the greater inclusion of the social sciences, a move which would help describe with greater accuracy the complex human components of the fisheries. Such an approach would also seek to develop the potential of mediation and negotiation as a means of integrating a number of rational, professional frameworks with user group perspectives, and would imply a continuance in the recent shift from centralist to intermediary planning. It is suggested that crucial management decisions relating to "endangered" stocks of salmon be delegated to councils of professional biologists, for in such cases it is important that lobbying processes not be allowed to compromise conservation principles. Also, economists should assume management roles that can better accommodate, in the processes of policy making, the heavy overlay of politically-important social policies inherent in the fisheries. To date, intense negotiation and bargaining processes, involving both user groups and the management professions, have been effectively conducted on both a public and private level. These processes have promoted ongoing social learning which has had a positive effect within the B.C. salmon fisheries (examples are the Pearse Commission, MAC, CFIC, PARK, and the Canada/U.S. Treaty). These types of processes appear to lend themselves to the establishment of lasting bio-anthropological contracts, and the subsequent realization of more rational salmon fisheries management. A planning process focused upon reducing social conflict, through the development of ongoing negotiation processes between the many participants in the fisheries, is considered the most likely to succeed. Not only will this better maintain the generally good record of biological sustainability of the B.C. salmon fisheries, but also it will gradually enable the full development of their considerable economic and social potential. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

Between 1985 and 1995, government agencies and interest groups interacted in a recurring cycle of moratoria and reviews in attempts to resolve a wide variety of environmental, economic and social concerns about salmon farming while making policies to manage the development of the new industry in British Columbia. Using policy community theory, this thesis analyzes how the community members developed the salmon farming policy framework. Then, drawing on the recommendations that were already advanced by aquaculture planners from the early 1980s, the thesis evaluates the policy framework that exists today. Depending upon their power resources and their position within the policy community, the members of the community used different methods to influence the policy process. The members of the sub-government maintained the status quo by using methods such as restricting the access for interest groups to the policy process and limiting the flow of information to the attentive public. The members of the attentive public increased their power by forming coalitions and putting forward a common policy statement to the public and government. Maintaining the status quo became difficult when the New Democratic Party (NDP) government came to power. In revising provincial environmental policies , the NDP changed the relative influence of the government agencies in the sub government. These changes increased conflict among agencies which the government addressed by undertaking an environmental assessment and a public policy review. The B.C. salmon farming policy community is identified as a pressure pluralist community which emerges when jurisdictional responsibility is fragmented among a number of agencies and no mediating mechanism exists to bring together the members of the community. As a result , the community tends to make short term policy and functions without a long term strategy. The thesis concludes with six recommendations designed to increase the access and input of all those who want to participate in the policy process, to address the diversity of issues raised within the policy community, to insure social accountability when interest groups implement policy , and to fill the gaps in the existing policy framework. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

The British Columbia fishery is in crisis. Environmental conditions and problems with the management of the fishing resource have led to a significant reduction in stocks and created serious economic problems in the industry. Women's work is central to the fishery yet it is often unpaid, underpaid and undervalued. Policies guiding the restructuring of the industry do not take into account the unique circumstances of women in the industry. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to improve the understanding about the ways fishery policy impacts the lives of women in the fishing communities of BC. The question posed: What is the experience of women in the BC Fisheries during a climate of crisis and change? A feminist approach is applied to this qualitative study. Unstructured interviews were conducted with a sample of nine women who have worked in the industry and are impacted by closures and cutbacks. Findings reveal a devastating magnitude of loss for these women and their families; a great mistrust of the motives of the Federal government and its policies; and a multitude of strategies used in their struggle for survival. The critical inequities in the fishing industry make this study particularly relevant to social work. Further research is warranted to develop adjustment, programs that address these inequalities and meet the needs of women in the coastal communities of BC. Limitations of thisstudy and suggestions for future research are discussed in the light of these findings.

The British Columbia fishery is in crisis. Environmental conditions and problems with the management of the fishing resource have led to a significant reduction in stocks and created serious economic problems in the industry. Women's work is central to the fishery yet it is often unpaid, underpaid and undervalued. Policies guiding the restructuring of the industry do not take into account the unique circumstances of women in the industry. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to improve the understanding about the ways fishery policy impacts the lives of women in the fishing communities of BC. The question posed: What is the experience of women in the BC Fisheries during a climate of crisis and change? A feminist approach is applied to this qualitative study. Unstructured interviews were conducted with a sample of nine women who have worked in the industry and are impacted by closures and cutbacks. Findings reveal a devastating magnitude of loss for these women and their families; a great mistrust of the motives of the Federal government and its policies; and a multitude of strategies used in their struggle for survival. The critical inequities in the fishing industry make this study particularly relevant to social work. Further research is warranted to develop adjustment, programs that address these inequalities and meet the needs of women in the coastal communities of BC. Limitations of thisstudy and suggestions for future research are discussed in the light of these findings. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate