March 3, 2015 - Québec, Québec
Minister Steven Blaney, on behalf of the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, announced today that the Government of Canada has committed $3,397,929 to 43 fish habitat conservation projects throughout Quebec. These projects were approved for funding under the second and third rounds of the Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program (RFCPP).
Locally, here in Québec, two notable projects are benefitting from this investment. Regroupement des gestionnaires des ZEC de la Capitale-Nationale and SÉPAQ – Réserve faunique Portneuf are receiving a combined total of $88,470 to execute their respective projects.
As part of the National Conservation Plan, the RFCPP was created to restore Canada’s waterways and to ensure sustainability and ongoing productivity of our recreational fisheries. Given its success in ensuring a more coordinated approach to conservation efforts across the country, and the high demand, the Government of Canada increased the investment in the Economic Action Plan 2014 to a total of $25 million.
To date, the Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program has approved funding of up to $4,569,840 for 61 projects in Quebec.
Since 2006, the Government of Canada has taken important steps to conserve and restore our country’s natural environment and connect Canadians to our rich natural heritage. Details about the program can be found on the Program’s Web site where you can also sign up for updates.
“The Recreational Fisheries Conservations Partnerships Program allows our Government to support an important economic sector while also ensuring sustainable fisheries. Our Government is proud to support their work that will benefit Canadian communities for years to come.”
The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
“Recreational fishing is an important economic activity which attracts thousands of visitors to Canada and contributes billions of dollars to our economy every year. SÉPAQ – Réserve faunique Portneuf and Regroupement des gestionnaires des ZEC de la Capitale-Nationale, like many Canadian groups, have done amazing work to ensure that real progress is achieved. I’m proud to be a part of a government committed to working with its citizens for the betterment of our natural environment."
The Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness and Member of Parliament for Lévis-Bellechasse
"The actions performed thanks to the Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program will enable us to implement necessary corrective measures for the recovery and rehabilitation of fish habitats to encourage recreational fisheries and restore degraded fish habitats."
Harold Castonguay, President, Regroupement des gestionnaires des ZEC de la Capitale-Nationale
"The creation of spawning grounds for brook trout in several lakes in the Réserve faunique de Portneuf will allow us to increase productivity of native populations of brook trout in the targeted lakes and increase fishing yields in lakes without resorting to stocking. These developments will enhance the quality of sport fishing for the public."
Marc-André Tremblay, Director, SÉPAQ – Réserve faunique Portneuf
Photo caption: The Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, André Martin, CEO, Fondation de la faune du Québec and Harold Castonguay, President of the Regroupement des gestionnaires des ZEC de la Capitale-Nationale, join forces to encourage recreational fisheries in Quebec.
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Sophie Doucet
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
613-992-3474
Regional Communications Branch
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Quebec Region
media.qc@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
418-648-5474
NR-QR-15-06E
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