Canada’s oceans and waterways are home to diverse ecosystems that play a key role in the health of Canadians and the environment. Climate change, pollution, and shipping activities can impact marine life. Through Canada’s Oceans Protection Plan, the Government of Canada is increasing protections and further preserving these important marine ecosystems.
The Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, Diane Lebouthillier, recently announced close to $9.3 million in funding for four projects in British Columbia under the Aquatic Ecosystems Restoration Fund (AERF). This fund supports projects to conserve and restore our aquatic ecosystems by addressing impacts in these environments.
“The Government of Canada is committed to taking action to restore and safeguard the health of our ocean and freshwater ecosystems,” said Minister Lebouthillier. “We are proud to help fund the work of these recipients in restoring and enhancing priority coastal and upstream aquatic areas. Working together, we can enhance our abilities to combat climate change through aquatic restoration activities.”
Projects receiving funding as part of this announcement include:
- $852,000 over four years for the Ditidaht First Nation to restore Doobah Creek watershed on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Community initiatives and an informed, natural-based restoration approach will address lost and degraded critical salmon spawning and rearing habitats.
- $1,818,901 over four years for the SeaChange Marine Conservation Society and partners to implement the Resilient Estuaries of the Salish Sea project though restoration, conservation, monitoring and educational activities that address the pressures and threats to important salmon.
- $2,924,899 over four years for the Secretariat of the Haida Nation to continue monitoring, adaptive management and restoration of historic marine-based log handling facilities in ecologically sensitive estuaries on Haida Gwaii.
- $3,683,027 over four years for The Kelp Rescue Initiative (based at the Western Canadian Universities Marine Sciences Society’s Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre) and the University of Victoria to develop and apply methods for culturing and out-planting giant and bull kelp in southern British Columbia, in partnership with local First Nations.
As part of the Oceans Protection Plan, AERF supports projects that contribute to restoration priorities in coastal and upstream areas that have a direct impact on coastal aquatic ecosystems; contribute to the development and implementation of aquatic restoration plans; and stimulate partnership with Indigenous Peoples, conservation groups, and academia to address threats to Canadian aquatic species and habitats. Activities funded under AERF help to address the root causes of impacts on those environments, and help protect and restore aquatic habitat for Canada’s coastline, estuaries, and inland regions.
The Oceans Protection Plan is a Canadian success story. When Indigenous Peoples, industry, communities, experts, academia, and government work together to protect our environment, grow our economy, and support good jobs across the country, we deliver real results. Canada’s Oceans Protection Plan is keeping our oceans and coasts healthy, advancing reconciliation, and building a clean future for our children and grandchildren.
“The Ditidaht First Nation holds the wealth of its Nation and the use of their lands, waters, and resources in the future as they did in the past, to the common good and benefit of all Ditidaht, by fostering development that is based on the principle of caring for and maintaining their physical and spiritual linkages with their lands, waters, and resources for all generations,” said Paul Sieber, director of natural resources for the Ditidaht First Nation.
“The Doobah Creek process-based restoration project will support these values through the healing of our land from the mountaintops to the valley bottoms, the restoration of important aquatic habitats, the reestablishment of culturally important species such as wild salmon, and the continued healing of the Ditidaht People.”
For further information, visit: Aquatic Ecosystems Restoration Fund
Featured image credit: Getty Images
