Q’ul-lhanumutsun Aquatic Resources Society

Our Story

The Q’ul-lhanumutsun Aquatic Resources Society (QARS) is an incorporated non-profit Society that was create to provide technical capacity and strategic communications for our Member First Nation communities, so that community staff and leadership are able to engage on aquatic resource management in an informed manner. We create opportunities for the six Coast Salish communities of Stz’uminus First Nation, Halalt First Nation, Penelakut Tribe, Lyackson First Nation, Cowichan Tribes and Lake Cowichan First Nation – representing over 8000 people overall, to carry out strategic planning on fisheries and aquatic resources. This is accomplished through having a board of directors with equal voice from each of the six communities, by hosting meetings where information can be shared, and by providing expertise in the field, in communities and in technical and policy-oriented aquatic resource processes. Our services provide meaningful capacity to communities that require the services of a Biologist, and access to up-to-date information that must be achieved through a high level of process engagement. QARS provides its member communities with the data collection and management capacity as afforded by modern database systems and data capture tools such as UAV’s and ROV’s. We engage with DFO and other agencies to create opportunities that support community interests including fisheries access, shellfish safety, salmon enumeration, herring rebuilding, intertidal habitat assessment and the preservation and use of marine traditional knowledge.