Pacific Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative

The Pacific Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative (PICFI) is an Indigenous commercial fisheries funding program which is designed to increase First Nations’ access and participation in commercial fisheries in British Columbia (B.C.) and Yukon. Developed under the model of co-development, co-design, and co-delivery in collaboration with Indigenous partners, the program provides financial support for business development and expansion opportunities in commercial fisheries and fisheries-related diversification, and increased fisheries access and participation for existing First Nations’ Commercial Fishing Enterprises (CFEs) currently participating in the program. PICFI funding also offers opportunities for capacity building and training development are also available to the current First Nations’ CFE participants in the Pacific Region. The program is aimed at achieving environmentally sustainable and economically viable commercial fisheries, where conservation is the first priority and Indigenous interests are supported. Funding opportunities open yearly, and each intake period is focused on one of the following PICFI program areas.

Objectives

• Build B.C. and Yukon First Nations communities capacity to fish, and to operate self-sustaining Indigenous community-owned CFEs and aquaculture enterprises.
• Improve the business and operational capacities required by First Nations’ CFEs and aquaculture enterprises to successfully manage sustainable fishing and aquaculture operations, and to maximize potential while maintaining self-sufficiency.
• Strengthen community economic self-sufficiency within the framework of an orderly, stable integrated commercial fishing network, and aquaculture industry.
• Focus on implementation of co-development, co-design, and co-delivery , and work directly with First Nations and other Indigenous partners to develop their capacity, sustainability, access and self-sufficiency of First Nations’ community-owned CFEs and aquaculture enterprises in the B.C. and Yukon.

Program areas

Capacity building and harvester training

Capacity Building Support (CBS) funding supports the capacity of First Nations’ community-owned CFEs to increase Indigenous participation in commercial fisheries operations and fisheries-related diversification projects. In this regard, CBS funding is focused on prioritizing increasing the knowledge and skills-base that community-owned CFEs need to operate successful commercial fishery and/ or fishery-related diversification business over the long-term and to maximize economic benefits for communities, including job creation.

CBS funding also provides support to First Nations CFEs to establish and implement business development and human resource plans. This also includes business planning, and training and mentoring support for participation in the commercial fishery.

In addition, PICFI provides Harvester Training Supplement (HTS) funding to eligible community-owned CFEs, as well as community-owned aquaculture enterprises that are receiving PICFI Aquaculture Development Source (ADS) funding in the same fiscal year, to receive training and mentoring in commercial fisheries, aquaculture operations, and fisheries-related diversification activities. Eligible recipients must be currently participating in the PICFI program in order to receive funding support from HTS.

Business development

Business Development Source (BDS) funding offers flexibility to CFEs to leverage their own-source funding to help achieve self-sustainability and self-sufficiency through fisheries access acquisition, fishing vessel and gear acquisitions or upgrades, fishing operations upgrades, commercial fisheries-related on shore facilities and diversification.

BDS funding also support CFEs in developing their community-owned aquaculture operations, with the additional requirements such as having necessary regulatory approval in place at the time of application.

Commercial fisheries access

The PICFI program provides greater access to a diversity of commercial fishing opportunities that will support the development of First Nations’ community-owned CFEs, for the benefit of communities and increase Indigenous participation in commercial fisheries. The program delivery model is provides direct business funding support to CFEs, instead of using the buy-back model known as Voluntary Licence Relinquishment process.

Aquaculture development

Aquaculture Development Source (ADS) funding provides direct support to First Nations to develop their community-owned sustainable, and self-sufficient aquaculture operations. The program supports community-owned aquaculture enterprises to develop and expand their aquaculture operations, along with additional requirements such as having necessary regulatory approval in place at the time of application.

Co-management

We collaborate directly with Indigenous partners to develop the framework of co-development, co-design, and co-delivery. PICFI funding provides direct support to First Nations’ community-owned Commercial Fishing Enterprises and aquaculture enterprises’ capacity, sustainability, harvesting opportunities, aquaculture development, economic development, employment, and self-sufficiency.

How to apply

Eligible First Nations can request PICFI Aquaculture Development Source funding application documents by contacting us.

Business Development Source and Capacity Building Support funding are only available to existing community-owned CFEs participating in the PICFI program.

Related links

• Evaluation of the Indigenous Commercial Fisheries Programs (2021)
• Action Plan for the Renewal and Expansion of DFO’s Indigenous Programs

Contact us

Email: DFO.PICFI_Submissions-Soumissions_IPCIP.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca