Two of seven fisheries projects receiving federal and provincial funding are located in northern B.C.
The seven projects are funded under the British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund (BCSRIF) and the $3 million in funding will be delivered over five years to support projects that are restoring salmon habitats.
The Gitanyow Fisheries Authority will receive approximately $867,000 over five years to initiate an enhancement and habitat restoration project to maximize Kitwanga Sockeye spawner success over the next five years. They will also identify limiting factors to Kitwanga Sockeye production and implement technical solutions which will help rebuild the stock.
The Skeena Fisheries Commission will receive approximately $400,000 over four years to develop a semi-autonomous salmon enumeration fence to allow for more accurate monitoring of Bear River Watershed Chinook, Coho and Sockeye. Increased understanding of these populations will be used to inform future fisheries management approaches.
Over the next four years, BCSRIF investments will play a key role in making British Columbia’s wild fisheries more sustainable for the long-term. This will benefit British Columbia’s fish and seafood sector by ensuring the sector can continue to offer stable employment to thousands of Canadians.
BCSRIF will be accepting new applications for funding from July 15 to September 15, 2020. Funding is open to Indigenous communities, industry associations, environmental non-governmental organizations, commercial enterprises, and academic institutions. Investments through this program will help recover salmon habitat, benefit commercial and recreational fishing and aquaculture, as well as support science and research initiatives. Further information on the application process, timelines and program criteria are available on the BCSRIF website: www.bcsrif.ca