Attention Huu-ay-aht & Maa-nulth-aht Fishers: The ICEF Economic Winter Chinook Me Too Fishery starts January 9, 2026 and is open until March 15, 2026, or until the quota catch is met.
Larry Johnson with Chinook, August 2025.
Requirements:
Registered vessel which meets marine safety requirements.
Inshore or offshore fishing is allowed [The fishing area is PFMAs 123-127 and portions of PFMAs 23-27].
Any gear type is permitted – use of plugs is not required.
No gill net or seine net permitted.
Non-retention of Fraser Pink Salmon.
The fishery will close March 15, 2026 or when the allocation has been reached, whichever comes first.
Fishers must obtain license and documentation from HFN Natural Resources Manager before fishing commences.
For more information or to sign up and get your license please contact: Amelia Vos – Natural Resources Manager. 250-728-3414 or amelia.v@huuayaht.org
Members of Huu-ay-aht First Nations celebrated a significant milestone on Dec. 16, 2025, by signing a child and family services agreement, known as the yaaʔak̓apʷin (we are embracing) agreement, with the B.C. Ministry of Children and Family Development.
Swiftwater Training for Huu-ay-aht Youth provided valuable field skills and work experience, and the training has benefited several initiatives of the Huu-ay-aht First Nations (HFN) Fisheries program.
(Left to right) Victoria Williams, Vanessa Young, Zyliss Dick, and Seth Nookemus in Swiftwater training gear. Photo by Daniel Zayonc.
The Huu-ay-aht First Nations and the Association of Wetland Stewards for Clayoquot & Barkley Sounds, locally known as “SPLAT” have been working together to protect the Frederick Lake Western Toad population since 2018.
Left to right: Huu-ay-aht Guardians Jayson Nookemus, Brian Peters, and Kevin Peters, and SPLAT team member, Gerry Schreiber, after extending fences designed to keep toads off the Bamfield Road.
Adult Western Toad. Photo by Katie Turner
Juvenile Western Toad (toadlet). Photo by Jess McGregor
Frederick Lake is home to a breeding population of Western Toads, a species that is protected under the Species at Risk Act in Canada.
To access the lake to breed in the spring, Western Toads must migrate across the road bordering Frederick Lake, where they mate and lay eggs in shallow waters along the shore. Breeding adults then migrate back across the road into the forest after laying eggs. Once eggs hatch into tadpoles and grow into toadlets, the toadlets must also cross the road to migrate into the forest, which takes place in July and August.
In the spring of 2021, with the announcement of the resurfacing of the Bamfield Road and the expectation of increased vehicle traffic, SPLAT approached the Huu-ay-aht First Nations and the Government of BC to install toad underpasses. During the spring and fall of 2021 and spring of 2022, the Huu-ay-aht Watershed Renewal Technicians assisted the SPLAT team to survey the number of toads crossing the road. Two culverts were installed as well as over 300 meters of fencing to guide toads to the culverts were constructed. In 2023 and 2024 more fencing was added, and surveys conducted to find the peak crossing locations and used wildlife cameras to photograph toads using the culverts.
Huu-ay-aht Guardians, along with SPLAT crew, played a key role in night-time toad surveys, extending fences to keep toads off the Bamfield Road, and building a temporary fence extension to be in place during peak toadlet migration.
Infographic about how SPLAT protect the habitat of Western Toads and other amphibians at Frederick Lake near Bamfield, in collaboration with the Huu-ay-aht First Nations.
The Association of Wetland Stewards for Clayoquot & Barkley Sounds is a non-profit charity, locally known as “SPLAT” – “Society for the Prevention of Little Amphibian Tragedies” or “Scientific Protocols for Locating Amphibians in Transit”. The main project funder is Environment and Climate Change Canada, through Indigenous Partnerships for Species at Risk.
This long-term project began with surveys on Highway 4 between Tofino and Ucluelet to learn where frogs and salamanders were crossing and being squashed by vehicle traffic.
Members of Huu-ay-aht First Nations Executive Council attended the B.C. Cabinet & First Nations Leaders’ Gathering in Vancouver this week.
Chief Councillor Sayaač̓atḥ, John Jack, Councillor n̓aasquʔisʔatḥ, Stephen Rayner, and Councillor ƛicitatḥ, Edward R. Johnson met with members of the BC Cabinet as they continue to advocate for the long-term health and well-being of Huu-ay-aht.
Productive conversations were held with the Minister of Infrastructure Bowinn Ma, the Minister of Children and Family Development Jodie Wickens, the Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth Ravi Kahlon, the Minister of Forests Mackenzie Leine, the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Nina Kreiger and many more.
