11 June 2025| Vancouver is Awesome via UVic News
According to a new article, a recent study has found that Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has fallen short in its efforts to meaningfully integrate Indigenous knowledge into fisheries management. Of 78 public policy documents reviewed from the past five years, only one fully incorporated Indigenous knowledge systems. While federal policy has increasingly emphasized the importance of Indigenous inclusion—particularly since updates to the Fisheries Act in 2019—the study concludes that most documents remain aspirational in nature, privileging Western science and decision-making processes.
The study was co-authored by Keshia Moffat, Jamie Snook, Kenneth Paul, and Dr. Alejandro Frid, an independent ecologist and adjunct assistant professor at the University of Victoria. Together, the team assessed how Indigenous knowledge and perspectives are reflected—or omitted—in DFO’s published guidance. Frid noted that one standout example, a Pacific herring rebuilding plan co-developed with the Haida Nation, shows what’s possible when Indigenous leadership and knowledge are centered. He called the document a “bright spot” and emphasized that “DFO can engage properly when they choose to—they just have to do it.”
At UVic and in his broader work, Frid operates at the intersection of conservation science and social justice. He has collaborated with First Nations in British Columbia since 2013, working to bridge Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Western science in support of marine conservation. With over 30 years of research experience—including studies of endangered deer in Chile and predator-prey dynamics—Frid brings a wide ecological lens to his work. His current focus is on creating more just and sustainable approaches to environmental stewardship through respectful, community-driven partnerships.
If you’re interested in learning more about Frid’s research, you can explore his work on UVicSpace, the University of Victoria’s institutional repository.
