Government of Canada and Province of British Columbia to fund projects that promote wild salmon and sustainable fishing practices across British Columbia

VANCOUVER, BC, June 15, 2020 /CNW/ - Protecting and restoring our wild fish habitat and stocks is a priority for both the Government of Canada and the Government of British Columbia. Healthy, wild stocks are vital to healthy ecosystems, the economy, to the social fabric of BC's coastal communities, and they are a fundamental part of many Indigenous cultures and livelihoods.

Both governments are working on many projects to address and reverse salmon stocks declines. This work includes restoring lost protections for fish and fish habitat in the modernized Fisheries Act, advancing science-based fisheries management measures, reviewing concerns regarding predation, and implementing a plan to fight climate change.

Today, the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honourable Bernadette Jordan, and the BC Minister of Agriculture, the Honourable Lana Popham, announced funding for seven projects under the British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund (BCSRIF). $3 million in funding will be delivered over five years to support projects that are restoring salmon habitats.

Over the next four years, BCSRIF investments will play a key role in making British Columbia's wild fisheries more sustainable for the long-term. This will benefit British Columbia's fish and seafood sector by ensuring the sector can continue to offer stable employment to thousands of Canadians. As we continue to fight climate change and confront changing economic conditions, a healthy fish stock to harvest and sell will be critical to our economy and food supply. By supporting projects that build environmental and economic resilience, BCSRIF is also contributing to our recovery from Covid-19.

BCSRIF will be accepting new applications for funding from July 15 to September 15, 2020. Funding is open to Indigenous communities, industry associations, environmental non-governmental organizations, commercial enterprises, and academic institutions. Investments through this program will help recover salmon habitat, benefit commercial and recreational fishing and aquaculture, as well as support science and research initiatives. Further information on the application process, timelines and program criteria are available on the BCSRIF website: www.bcsrif.ca

Quotes

"Creating more sustainable fisheries is a priority for Canada and British Columbia. We're taking decisive action now to protect and restore our wild fish stocks and their habitats across the province. The investments we're making through the British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund will move us closer to our shared goal of thriving, sustainable fish habitat and fisheries for today, and for generations to come."

The Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard

"Helping B.C.'s wild salmon population recover is a monumental task, but the commitment and partnership among First Nations, scientists, governments, and people who care about these iconic fish is unwavering. These projects will help salmon get up-stream to reach their spawning grounds, provide us with new information about their habits and populations, and contribute to our on-going efforts to have healthy salmon populations in the Pacific."
The Honourable Lana Popham, BC Minister of Agriculture

Quick Facts

• Additional information on projects selected for the British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund (BCSRIF) can be found online here.
• The BCSRIF is a 70 per cent federal, 30 per cent provincial cost-shared program.
• The Government of Canada is investing $100 million over five years for the British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund, and provided a one-time investment of $5 million for the Pacific Salmon Endowment Fund.
• The Government of British Columbia is investing $42.85 million over five years and has provided a one-time grant of $5 million for the Pacific Salmon Foundation.
• Indigenous communities, commercial organizations in the wild fisheries and aquaculture sectors, recreational fisheries, as well as non-commercial organizations such as universities and research institutions, industry associations and conservation groups, can apply.
• Salmon are a part of intricate food webs in both their freshwater and marine environments, affecting everything from tiny zooplankton, to large mammals like whales and bears, to birds of prey.
• Wild salmon are culturally important for many First Nations in British Columbia. Wild salmon is also part of the province's long-running tradition of recreational and sport fishing, which is directly connected to its tourism industry.
• BCSRIF will be accepting new applications for funding from July 15 to September 15, 2020. Details on the application process can be found here.
• All application are reviewed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Province of British Columbia.

Associated Links

• British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund
• Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund
• Squamish River Watershed Society
• Peninsula Stream Society
• Gitanyow Fisheries Authority
• Pacific Salmon Foundation
• Pacific Prawn Fishermen's Association
• University of British Columbia - Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences
• Skeena Fisheries Commission

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Backgrounder
Seven new BCSRIF Projects

Projects that are receiving funding through the British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund include:

• The Squamish River Watershed Society will receive approximately $522,000 over three years to restore fish passage and increase productivity in Chinook salmon by reducing obstructions along the Elaho River. The project will focus on reducing obstructions to help provide consistent fish access to over 40 kilometers of the upper section of the Elaho River watershed.
• The Peninsula Stream Society will receive approximately $300,000 over two years to create a "fishway" that will allow fish to move up to and through a large culvert under Atkins Road near Mill Hill Regional park. This will aid fish passage and allow resident trout and spawning adult Coho salmon access to over eight kilometres of habitat upstream.
• The Gitanyow Fisheries Authority will receive approximately $867,000 over five years to initiate an enhancement and habitat restoration project to maximize Kitwanga Sockeye spawner success over the next five years. They will also identify limiting factors to Kitwanga Sockeye production and implement technical solutions which will help rebuild the stock.
• The Pacific Salmon Foundation will receive approximately $650,000 over two years to conduct winter trawl sample surveys in the Gulf of Alaska to study the abundance, health, and habitat use of Pacific salmonids during winter conditions. The project will also assess the potential conflict between hatchery produced and wild salmonids in ocean conditions. \
• The Pacific Prawn Fishermen's Association will receive approximately $117,000 over two years to develop a robust Management Procedure to improve the sustainability of the BC Spot Prawn fishery. Funding will allow for the evaluation of expected outcomes of fishing impacts to wild prawn stocks under alternative fishing practices and provide an opportunity for valuable stock assessment, research, and management training for harvesters, First Nations, and others.
• The University of British Columbia (UBC) will receive approximately $165,000 over two years to conduct research to improve understanding of the changing ecosystem facing out-migrating juvenile salmon in the Strait of Georgia. Activities include quantifying key drivers of zooplankton (small animals that feed on ocean plants) feeding, and to explore how zooplankton abundance and distribution are affected by environmental conditions.
• The Skeena Fisheries Commission will receive approximately $400,000 over four years to develop a semi-autonomous salmon enumeration fence to allow for more accurate monitoring of Bear River Watershed Chinook, Coho and Sockeye. Increased understanding of these populations will be used to inform future fisheries management approaches.
  

BCSRIF will be accepting new applications for funding from July 15 to September 15, 2020. Funding is available for projects that meet the eligibility and assessment criteria in BC. Priorities for the fund in 2020 are:

• Research to refine the scientific understanding of Fraser Steelhead, Chinook and Coho through science collaborations and the incorporation of Indigenous Knowledge.
• Habitat restoration projects that target red status Conservation Units or COSEWIC-listed populations. 
• Innovative processes and technologies to increase the quality and value of BC fish and seafood products and optimize fishing operations.
• Projects to advance selective fishing practices aimed at minimizing bycatch of species of concern.
• New aquaculture technologies and processes to improve environmental performance and increase supply chain transparency.
• Infrastructure upgrades or improvements to existing hatcheries.

Further information on the application process, timelines and program criteria are available on the BCSRIF website: www.bcsrif.ca

SOURCE Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Region