Four delegates from Tsawout First Nation, based on the Saanich Penisula, will be presenting two topics about food sovereignty and Indigenous protected areas at the International Marine Conservation Congress in Cape Town, South Africa.
In October, Chief Abraham Pelkey, Coun. John Etzel Sr., marine use planner Laís Chaves, and fisheries manager Chrissy Chen will fly to Africa to showcase their work on the international stage to 800 attendees.
"To save our oceans, we need everyone’s help – scientists, government officials, people who use the ocean, and those who manage ocean resources, all working together," noted a news release from the First Nation.
The first abstract, titled "Harnessing Kelp Farming Led by Indigenous Communities: A Nature-Based Solution for Food Sovereignty and Sustainable Economic Benefits," focuses on food security and mitigating environmental degradation through Indigenous-led kelp farming.
"Kelp forests foster biodiversity, sequester carbon, and improve water quality, thereby enhancing ecosystem resilience in the face of climate change," noted an abstract of the topic. "The economic benefits of kelp farming offers a diversified income stream, reducing dependency on single-sector economies vulnerable to market fluctuations. Additionally, kelp-derived products such as biofuels, fertilizers, and animal feed hold promise for sustainable economic growth."
The second topic, called "Enhancing Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods: The Tsawout First Nation's Initiative in Creating an Indigenous Protected Area in the Salish Sea," is about the QEN,T Marine Protected Area that the First Nation established in 2023 to combine "traditional ecological knowledge with contemporary conservation practices to safeguard critical marine ecosystems and promote sustainable nature-based economies."
The 7th International Marine Conservation Congress runs from October 13 to 18 and aims to engage those involved in marine conservation to share ideas and promote action for the long-term health of our oceans.
