Vancouver, BC - Today, the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, and the BC Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, the Honourable Nathan Cullen, announced $86,119,340 for 58 projects receiving funding under the second phase of the British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund (BCSRIF). Launched in March 2019, BCSRIF has made investments in support of habitat protection and restoration, ensuring the fish and seafood sector in British Columbia is positioned for long-term environmental and economic sustainability. The projects announced today are jointly funded through Canada's Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative (PSSI) and the Province of BC. These contributions will support recipients selected through BCSRIF's second application intake in carrying out important conservation projects that restore salmon ecosystems while providing sustainable, resilient and prosperous fisheries.
Some of the projects announced today include:
- The University of British Columbia, Department of Civil Engineering receives $1.8M in funding to assess the prevalence of stormwater contaminants in salmon-bearing streams in BC and identify opportunities for green infrastructure interventions to protect salmon populations rom toxic road runoff contaminants.
- The Pacific Salmon Foundation receives $2.4M in funding for the Salmon Recovery - advancing planning and action project.
- Scw'exmx Tribal Council receives $5.30M in funding for the Post Flood Support for Fish and Fish Habitat Recovery in the Nicola Watershed project. The Scw'exmx Tribal Council's Fisheries Department, the Nicola Watershed Stewardship and Fisheries Authority (NWSFA), aim to provide flood recovery actions in the Nicola Watershed and offset the impacts of flooding on fish and fish habitat.
- Lax Kw'alaams Business Development Ltd.receives $2.21M for the Skeena River Fish Trap Project in collaboration with Skeena Fisheries Commission and the Wild Fish Conservancy to evaluate the feasibility of an impoundment net fish trap in the lower Skeena River to harvest salmon and other species.
