Coastal British Columbia depends on sustainable fishing. The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship is responsible for ensuring the long-term health of fish habitats throughout the province. The following are excerpts from two recent B.C. News Releases.
Lower Fraser River. The Lower Fraser River and its tributaries are home to the largest collection of salmon runs in the world, supporting local communities and B.C. fisheries. But the watershed faces significant challenges, including outdated flood-control infrastructure that blocks vital migration routes for salmon. “The Resilient Waters project will benefit local communities, B.C. fisheries and the incredible diversity of fish, in particular wild salmon, that call the Lower Fraser River region home” said Nathan Cullen, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship.
The B.C. Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund (BCSRIF) will provide $3.6 million to support the Resilient Waters project. This project is a collaborative effort led by MakeWay Charitable Society and involves partnerships with government agencies, Indigenous communities, non-profit organizations and research institutions, working together to address critical issues facing the salmon populations in the Lower Fraser Watershed.
The goal of the project is to restore connections to more than 1,500 kilometres of wild salmon habitat in the Fraser Valley by replacing 156 aging flood-control structures, such as pump stations, flood boxes and dikes, while advancing best practices in fish-friendly flood infrastructure to protect communities. The Resilient Waters project will also provide 7.5 hectares of high-quality juvenile coho and chinook rearing habitat within an existing wildlife management area.
Campbell River Projects. First Nations and the Campbell River community will benefit from three new projects that will help rebuild habitats, strengthen local wild Pacific salmon populations, and support sustainable fishing practices.
The Province and Government of Canada are providing more than $3.4 million through the co-funded British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund (BCSRIF). Funding will go toward three projects in the Campbell River area:
- Rebuilding the Homalco Taggares hatchery Orford Bay as a multi-species hatchery and stewardship centre.
- Restoring approximately two hectares of the Campbell River estuary by recreating salt marsh and eelgrass habitat that was previously lost due to historical logging in the area. The project also includes environmental monitoring and commercial dive training, as well as professional development for biologists.
- Implementing a fish trap in the Campbell/Quinsam estuary, including site assessment, engagement, design construction and operation. This will help develop capacity for sustainable-salmon stewardship through selective-fishing methods in traditional fishing areas.
All three of these projects were chosen in addition to more than 70 other projects around the province receiving funding from Phase 2 of the BCSRIF initiative. Each project will support and revitalize salmon ecosystems and habitat, while protecting sustainable fisheries.
Facts About BCSRIF. The British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund is a program funded jointly by the federal and provincial governments. The Government of Canada is providing 70% of the funding and the Province of B.C. is providing 30%. The fund will be available to support projects until March 31, 2026. BCSRIF has supported approximately 100 projects in its Phase 1 to protect and restore wild Pacific salmon and other priority fish populations since 2019.
For more information about BCSRIF, click HERE.
