NR-PR-01-051E

May 24, 2001

VANCOUVER - The Government of Canada is contributing $5 million this year to about 80 projects aiming to improve the health of salmon stocks and fish habitat in B.C. and the Yukon, Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and MP for Vancouver-South Burnaby, announced today. Many of the projects will benefit weak salmon stocks, such as coho.

The funding is provided through the federal government's Habitat Restoration and Salmon Enhancement Program (HRSEP), which is in its final year in 2001/02. Including this fiscal year, the program has contributed more than $36 million to salmon conservation projects since 1997/98.

"Over the past five years, the program has provided financial and technical support to more than 550 projects that involve communities and the federal government working in partnership to rebuild salmon stocks," Mr. Dhaliwal said.

"Together we have restored valuable habitat on many rivers, streams and estuaries across the Pacific Region and improved our stewardship of watersheds - all to improve the future of our fish stocks. I would like to thank all of the committed individuals and groups that have contributed to this program."

Recipients of the funding include community, fishing and First Nations groups across B.C. and the Yukon. The funding by geographic area is: Southern Vancouver Island/South Coast - $1.7 million; Fraser River Basin - $1.9 million; North and Central Coasts/Northern Vancouver Island - $1.1 million; and Yukon - $300,000.

The types of projects being undertaken are:

• Habitat restoration in local streams, rivers and estuaries, to improve salmon survival. This includes building side-channels, stabilizing stream banks, improving water flows, planting riparian vegetation and adding spawning gravel.
  
• Improving watershed stewardship to lead to sustainable salmon populations. This includes stream inventories, habitat mapping, adult and juvenile fish monitoring and protecting habitat through watershed planning.

• Rebuilding salmon stocks through short-term enhancement projects that help bolster weak populations and complement habitat restoration and fisheries management. Possible activities include incubation and rearing programs and the marking of juvenile fish to assess survival.

Project proposals were reviewed by committees made up of Fisheries and Oceans staff, First Nations, representatives of provincial agencies such as the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks and delegates from community stewardship groups.

HRSEP was extended under the federal government's $100 million commitment to habitat called Resource Rebuilding, which is part of the $400 million Pacific Fisheries Adjustment and Restructuring Program.

Details of some of the projects and groups involved, by geographic area, are provided in the accompanying media backgrounders.

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For more information:

Backgrounders:

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