FEBRUARY 28, 2005 FREDERICTON -- The Honourable Geoff Regan, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), provided additional details today on the funding announced during last week's federal budget and explained how it will address central issues in Atlantic Canada. "It gives me great pleasure to announce that the Government of Canada will invest $30 million to establish an Atlantic Salmon Endowment Fund," said Minister Regan. "The fund will help the countless watershed and community groups in the Atlantic provinces as well as Quebec who are working with DFO on a range of habitat-enhancement, monitoring and conservation initiatives." The once-proud Atlantic salmon has fallen on hard times, suffering serious declines over the last ten years. To deal with these declines, DFO focused a significant part of its overall enforcement efforts on salmon and has also worked closely with salmon-conservation groups to take proactive measures to conserve populations and rebuild stocks. But clearly, more is needed. The Atlantic Salmon Endowment Fund (ASEF), similar to the fund created on the West Coast in 2001, will optimize the $30 million one-time federal contribution to help achieve healthy and sustainable Atlantic salmon stocks. As seen in B.C., such funds are successful in enhancing co-operation between DFO and the many volunteer groups involved in maintaining, protecting and rebuilding salmon habitat. The ASEF would be managed at arms-length from DFO. The fund, which will have charitable status and be held in trust, will be able to draw on contributions from other public and private sources. Over the coming weeks and months, DFO will invite the provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, P.E.I. and Quebec and a variety of stakeholders, including Aboriginal groups, to share their views on the design and establishment of the ASEF. This includes the setting of priorities, the approval of projects and monitoring and implementation. Volunteer groups, including the Atlantic Salmon Federation, Aboriginal groups, sportfishing interests, community watershed groups - in short, those interested in playing a role in the salmon's future - will have an important role to play in the formation of the ASEF. "Restored and vibrant salmon populations in lakes and rivers in Atlantic Canada and Quebec would have huge benefits to Canadians and the communities they live in," added Minister Regan. In December 2004, a draft of the Wild Salmon Policy for the west coast was released. At that time it was also announced that DFO would begin development of a vision for the future of wild salmon in Atlantic Canada and Quebec. The ASEF is the foundation for developing a Wild Atlantic Salmon Policy that will give all interested parties the opportunity to work together to develop a common vision for the future of Atlantic salmon. "This investment shows a clear demonstration of Canada's commitment to environmental protection, community stewardship and partnerships, regional development in rural and coastal areas, and improved economic opportunities for First Nations," said Minister Regan. -30- Information: Phil Jenkins Media Relations Fisheries and Oceans Canada Ottawa (613) 990-7537 Brian Underhill Director of Communications Office of the Minister Fisheries and Oceans Canada Ottawa (613) 992-3474
