The Maritime Aboriginal Aquatic Resources Secretariate (MAARS) is a partnership of the Aboriginal Peoples Representative Organization Councils (New Brunswick Aboriginal Peoples Council, Native Council of Nova Scotia, Native Council of Prince Edward Island) for the communities of Mi’Kmaq, Malecite and Passamaquoddy Aboriginal Peoples continuing to reside on their traditional ancestral homeland throughout the Maritime Region on the East Coast of Canada.

MAARS is funded through the Aboriginal Aquatic Resources and Oceans Management (AAROM) program of Fisheries and Oceans Canada as well as some contributions from the Partner Native Councils.

Aboriginal Peoples have a vital role in sustainable development. Aboriginal Peoples hold traditional knowledge indigenous to these lands and waters and the plant, animal, and aquatic life that has evolved over countless millennia.

Exchanging aquatic resources traditional knowledge, principles of resource use, best harvesting practices, participating in commercial fishing industry planning and involvement with oceans management strategies, such as the Oceans Act, Environmental Protection Act, Fisheries Act, Bio-diversity Strategy, SARA and others, require Aboriginal Peoples’ inclusion for good decision making governance.

The multi-year Aboriginal Aquatic Resources and Oceans Management program launched by Fisheries and Oceans Canada in 2003 responds to the maturing relationship between DFO and coastal Aboriginal Peoples. Through our community planning and the contribution and assistance from DFO, the Aboriginal Aquatic Resources and Oceans Management program and the Native Council Partners, MAARS was instituted in January of 2005.

Integrating new ways to address changing expectations in participatory decision making, supporting inter-relationships with multi-stakeholders, developing and enhancing direct involvement in many aspects of aquatic resources, oceans management, the commercial fishing industry and other oceans environment transects require involvement of Aboriginal Peoples.

MAARS will help our communities chart a course for viable economic growth in the fisheries, acquire aquatic resources knowledge, establish a platform for input towards a sustainable aquatic and oceans living environment and create a climate for effective and direct participatory involvement in decision making governance.