Twelve applications have received approval for funding under the British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund (BCSRIF), totaling approximately $10.23 million

Backgrounder

  1. The University of British Columbia will receive $36,870 to allow researchers to undertake measurements of Albion Test fishery Chinook salmon lipid (fat) content to better understand how this affects the ability of these salmon to reach their spawning grounds, and improve our understanding of how ocean conditions impact Chinook salmon health.
  2. The University of British Columbia will receive $253,610 to develop a framework for modeling the cumulative impacts on salmonid populations to guide recovery planning and adaptive management based on stressor-response functions related to multiple threats.
  3. On behalf of the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council Society, the Secwepemc Fisheries Commission will receive $789,102 to gather data concerning Fraser River Coho, Interior Fraser River Summer Steelhead, and Southern BC Chinook populations that will inform fisheries recovery and rebuilding plans for the species. Data on habitat use, stream flow and temperature data, and other factors affecting survivability will be assessed over the next three years, to help guide the development of effective recovery strategies for salmon in BC’s southern interior.
  4. The Central Coast Indigenous Resource Alliance will apply its $1.53 million in BCSRIF funding over the next three years to design and implement a coordinated strategy to fill data gaps on Central Coast salmon populations, ultimately helping to inform management measures that will promote sustainable opportunities for marine and food, social, and ceremonial fisheries for First Nations harvesters.
  5. The Seymour Salmonid Society will receive $80,410 to conduct maintenance and facility upgrades to its hatchery over the next three years, including a new feed storage container, sewage storage tank, perimeter fencing, and outdoor pond roof structure to ensure the hatchery and education centre can continue to support the restoration and conservation of the salmonid populations in the Seymour watershed.
  6. Simon Fraser University will receive $3.56 million to investigate the risks posed by natural earth surface processes on Fraser River salmon, such as landslides and hydraulic barriers. With its partners, the University will use innovative technologies to measure and monitor earth surface processes and frontline techniques in molecular genomics. The work will improve understanding of the infrastructure needed to allow successful fish migration across hydraulic barriers like the Big Bar landslide.
  7. The Sunshine Coast Salmonid Society will receive $70,000 to identify an alternative water source for the Chapman Creek Hatchery to address extremely low flows in the creek during the summer months. Two test wells planned to be dug this year will serve as production and emergency wells to support the rearing of Coho salmon at the hatchery.
  8. The Nanaimo River Stewardship Society will apply its $1 million in BCSRIF funding to upgrade the Nanaimo River Hatchery to address ageing infrastructure, and allow the facility to adapt to changing enhancement objectives and watershed activities. Key elements of the work include rebuilding the aeration tower, replacing aged incubation trays and boxes, and optimizing the water supply to improve biosecurity and fish marking options. Upgrades to the stewardship building will also allow the organization to maximize public and institutional education opportunities.
  9. Cascadia Seaweed Corporation and its partners will apply the $1.9 million received to research how coastal kelp farms may provide habitat for migrating Pacific salmonids and their food sources by integrating traditional and cutting-edge monitoring technologies.
  10. Nova Harvest will receive $210,000 to increase the capacity for large high-quality seed by developing an ocean-based oyster nursery, known as a Floating Upwelling System. The project, aims to reduce risk to Canadian oyster farmers, improve sustainable local shellfish production, increase industry and job opportunities in remote coastal communities, and enhance local food security by reducing reliance on imported seed stock.
  11. The Sport Fishing Institute of BC will receive $453,324 to build on previous efforts to further the implementation of the Sport Fishing Advisory Board’s vision for the recreational fishing sector in the province. This phase of the project, planned for completion in two years, will focus on modernizing the Board’s model to ensure that the interests of the recreational fishery are represented to regulators and decision makers.
  12. The T Buck Suzuki Environmental Foundation will receive $320,700 to enhance the sustainability of BC’s fisheries using innovative technologies. Over the next two years, the Foundation will test the effectiveness of LED light usage in the shrimp trawl fishery and use knotless nets in the salmon and herring seine test fishery to reduce bycatch, increase the survivability of bycatch species, and prevent entanglements.

Projects eligible for BCSRIF funding must have an emphasis 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; and
  • 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.

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