Vancouver, BC – Fisheries are an important source of good, middle-class jobs in Indigenous and coastal communities, and they’re important to Canada’s economy as a whole. Wild Pacific Salmon are intrinsically linked to the culture and identity to British Columbians and they are fundamental to the culture of many Indigenous communities. Over the past several years we have seen declines in a number of key Pacific salmon stocks. These declines are having important consequences for our environment and our economy.
Today, the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson and B.C. Minister of Agriculture, the Honourable Lana Popham, were at the Pacific Science Enterprise Centre to highlight an important announcement made recently in the Fall Economic Statement 2018 to support wild pacific salmon.
The Government of Canada will work with the provincial government to create a British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund. Canada will contribute over $100 million in federal funding over six years, and the provincial funding will be announced in the coming months. The Government is also proposing to make a one-time contribution of $5 million to the Pacific Salmon Endowment Fund.
The BC Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund will focus on salmon habitat protection and restoration as well as ensuring the fish and seafood sector in British Columbia is positioned for long-term environmental and economic sustainability. Similar to the successful Atlantic Fisheries Fund, it will help support projects focused on science partnerships, innovation, clean technology adoption, and green infrastructure investments that improve productivity, sustainability and safety.
These new investments showcase our commitment to science and protecting our environment and wild salmon, as we also work to improve the economic outcomes for British Columbians and all Canadians.
Quotes
“The investment announced in the Fall Economic Statement is a big step forward in supporting wild pacific salmon, and the fish and seafood sector in British Columbia. We know that fisheries are an important source of good, middle-class jobs in coastal communities, and we have a responsibility to ensure that resources are managed sustainably and protected wisely, so our children and grandchildren can benefit from them for years to come.”
The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson
Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
“The fish and seafood industry in our province supports communities and First Nations up and down our coastline and is the backbone of economies throughout B.C. I look forward to the work ahead to ensure this significant investment aligns with sustainable priorities and innovative opportunities to strengthen our uniquely positioned sector, and provide prosperity to the people that work in it.”
The Honourable Lana Popham
Minister of Agriculture, Province of British Columbia
“The Pacific Science Enterprise Centre is playing a leading role in our government’s commitment to the sustainability of wild Pacific salmon, to understanding and combatting ocean plastics, and to serve as focal point for government, academic and community research and stewardship. Today, we celebrate new investment in wild salmon stock assessment and protection and the BC Salmon Innovation and Restoration Fund.”
Pamela Goldsmith-Jones
MP for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country
“We are delighted that the Government of Canada is supporting and investing in the Pacific Salmon Endowment Fund. This investment will go a long way to help support our hundreds of non-profit partners that work in communities across British Columbia to conserve wild salmon. We are looking forward to our continued collaboration to help protect and restore wild salmon.”
Brian Riddell
CEO Pacific Salmon Foundation
Quick facts
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada is investing $100 million over six years in federal funding for the British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund and a one-time contribution of $5 million in the Pacific Salmon Endowment Fund.
- The British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund will soon be accepting Expressions of Interest and further details will be available on our website in the coming weeks.
- In the coming months, the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia will engage with a broad range of stakeholders including industry participants, associations, Indigenous partners, NGOs, and the science and academic communities across BC.
- Further details on eligibility, project criteria and application forms for the British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund will be made available on the website.