Co-developing an assessment tool for British Columbia’s Salmon Allocation Policy

British Columbia’s Salmon Allocation Policy (SAP), adopted by Fisheries and Oceans Canada in 1999, formalized the “Doctrine of Priority” established in the R. v. Sparrow decision—prioritizing conservation, followed by First Nations Food, Social, and Ceremonial access, then commercial and recreational fisheries. Despite shifts in fisheries management and reconciliation efforts since its adoption, the SAP’s implementation has never been formally evaluated. The research team engaged representatives from 51 First Nations, seven First Nations organizations, and three universities across British Columbia, to co-develop an assessment tool to evaluate the SAP’s effectiveness in meeting its first two stated objectives. A multi-stage process included a workshop and follow-up interviews to collaboratively develop indicators for evaluating the SAP’s application to help identify key concerns related to SAP implementation to date. This research revealed widespread and ongoing concerns among First Nations about how the SAP is applied in practice, particularly regarding inconsistent adherence by federal managers to the Doctrine of Priority. The development of the SAP assessment tool demonstrates the importance of co-creating policy evaluation frameworks with First Nations partners. Our approach supports meaningful, inclusive, and transparent policy assessments that align with reconciliation commitments and respects First Nations governance of wild Pacific salmon.