EF2030 Associate Sandra Bicego is at the heart of some of British Columbia’s most challenging and important conversations on the future of wild Pacific salmon.

She is currently facilitating two advisory groups for Canada’s DFO (Department of Fisheries & Oceans) working to make tough decisions on changes to BC salmon fishing allocation between all the parties involved.  Through providing workshop facilitation and supporting ongoing collaboration on options, she’s helping bridge perspectives between Indigenous communities, fishers, conservationists, tourism, and policymakers.

This highly charged process is designed to right past wrongs, and connects coastal and interior BC First Nations organizations and the commercial and sport fishing sectors to update an outdated Salmon Allocation Policy managed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). To date, the work of the two groups has involved historical learning, context setting and information gathering to identify the key topics and issues to be addressed.

Sandra is looking forward to seeing a positive outcome for all parties involved in what will be a historic, precedent-setting process for all of BC. And we are proud of how she embodies the spirit of reconciliation and uses proven engagement principles and practices in her work that help make a real difference.