August 30, 2013
DUNCAN, British Columbia – The Honourable John Duncan, Minister of State and Chief Government Whip, on behalf of the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today announced that, through the newly established Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program, the Government of Canada will provide funding of up to $203,000 to support six projects to restore, rebuild and rehabilitate recreational fisheries habitat on Vancouver Island.
“Recreational fishing is a popular leisure activity in our communities that not only brings family and friends together, but also contributes to our economy by attracting tourists and creating jobs,” said Minister Duncan. “By partnering with our local groups who work on the ground to conserve fish habitat, the Government of Canada helps promote investments in recreational fisheries habitat restoration in our province, for the benefit of our communities in years to come.”
The funding announced today in the province of British Columbia will support effective restoration of fishing habitat projects on Vancouver Island. The projects were submitted during the first round of applications for Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program, which closed on July 12, 2013.
The following projects to conserve recreational fisheries habitat will receive funding through the Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program in British Columbia in this first round:
- Restoration of the Oliver Creek Fish Passage and Habitat Restoration around Youbou Road – Pacific Salmon Foundation
- Beaver Lake Dam Maintenance – Cowichan Lake Salmonid Enhancement Society
- Restoration and Enhancement of Critical Fish Habitat in Cowichan Region Creeks – Cowichan Land Trust
- Floating Island and Bubble Aerator Rehabilitation for the Quamichan Lake Recreational Fishery Project – Quamichan Watershed Stewardship Society
- Redevelopment of the Sandy Pool boat launch and fisheries restoration on Cowichan River – BC Wildlife Federation - Region 1, Vancouver Island
- Salish Sea Near-shore Marine Recreational Fisheries Project – SeaChange Marine Conservation Society.
The Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program will make as much as $10 million available over the next two years to support recreational fisheries habitat conservation activities. The funding for projects submitted in the first round of applications provides up to $6.5 million for
104 projects to restore, rebuild and rehabilitate recreational fisheries habitat across the country. A total of 28 projects are being funded in the first phase thanks to an investment of as much as $1.9 milion over two years.
For more information on the Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program, and on how to apply for the second round of funding this fall, visit: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/habitat/rfcpp-ppcpr/index-eng.asp.
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