communal licences; the total number of fish that can
be caught is negotiated by each band with the
government.

3. Legal sale of fish

The AFS has established several pilot sales programs
with B.C. bands. These programs are studying the
legal sale of fish caught by aboriginal people in the
province.

How does the AFS work?

There are 196 First Nations and 90,700 status aboriginal
people in B.C. (according to the B.C. government).

The federal government negotiates individual fishing
agreements with individual bands, tribal councils, and
other aboriginal groups on a range of issues, including
fish habitat protection, habitat enhancement training,
fishing regulations, regulation enforcement training, and
economic development. In 1994 there were more than

50 AFS agreements in place with B.C. aboriginal groups.

What is an AFS agreement?

Individual bands and tribal councils negotiate their own
AFS agreements with the Department of Fisheries and
Oceans. These agreements show how much money the

federal government will contribute to the band; who is

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