Minister Jonathan Wilkinson (L) and Premier Horgan (R)
Money will be used to leverage local Indigenous monitoring, guardianship programs and community-led habitat restoration efforts
By SeaWestNews
Ottawa and Victoria will pump $142.85 million over the next five years to support the protection of BC’s wild fisheries and enhance sustainability in the aquaculture industry.
The British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund will support projects that leverage local knowledge such as local Indigenous monitoring and guardianship programs and community-led habitat restoration, among other innovative projects aimed at protecting and restoring wild fish stocks.
“The new BC Salmon Innovation and Restoration Fund will restore and protect our wild Pacific salmon, while creating more economic opportunities and jobs for the people of British Columbia,” said Fisheries Minister Fisheries, Jonathan Wilkinson.
“I am extremely pleased with the very positive partnership we have developed with the Government of BC in this important area. By working together with the provincial government, conservation groups, scientists and industry we are confident that we can enhance our fisheries and protect our wild fish stocks.”
“By dedicating resources to habitat restoration and salmon runs, this fund will build on that work to make sure wild salmon stocks thrive in BC,” John Horgan, Premier of British Columbia.
To be eligible for funding, projects must focus on one or more of the following three areas:
Innovation – to encourage the development of new technologies to increase productivity and help meet conservation and sustainability objectives, including the protection and restoration of wild BC stocks, including Pacific salmon;
Infrastructure – to encourage capital investments in new products, processes or technologies to support the advancement of sustainable fishing practices and to support the protection and restoration of wild BC stocks, including Pacific salmon;
Science partnerships – to support collaborations with academia and other research institutions to improve our knowledge and understanding of impacts to wild stocks and to develop sustainable fishing practices.
To find out more about eligibility, project criteria and how to apply, visit the British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund web page: bcsrif.ca.
RELATED:
“This is a crisis, an avoidable crisis.” First Nation leaders warn Prime Minister Mark Carney…
For years, activists said removing salmon farms would cut sea lice on wild salmon. The…
New identity comes with a policy push to scrap B.C.’s 2029 salmon farming ban, recognize…
Prime Minister Mark Carney lays out a new “protect while we build” ocean-economy strategy as…
Armed with inflated egos, a cabal of chefs has cooked up a recipe for saving…
A ‘Marine Donut’ will be built and tested in Campbell River, but its developer says…