Ottawa, Ontario

The Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, on behalf of the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today announced that, under the second round of the Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program, the Government of Canada will provide close to $154,000 for five fish habitat conservation projects in New Brunswick.

The funding will benefit five organizations in this area:

• The Gestion du saumon de la rivière Restigouche et ses tributaires will receive up to $31,000 to protect Atlantic salmon habitat
• The Partenariat pour la gestion intégrée du bassin versant de la baie de Caraquet Inc. will receive up to $19,398 to restore Serbys Brook
• The Association des bassins versants de la Grande et Petite Rivière Tracadie received $12,000 to improve Thomas Brook
• The Comité de gestion environnementale de la rivière Pokemouche will receive up to $43,627 to increase fish productivity
• The Southeastern Anglers Association will receive $47,500 to improve habitat for brook trout and Atlantic salmon.

The Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program was announced in Economic Action Plan 2013 to support fisheries habitat restoration projects led by recreational fishing and angling groups, as well as conservation organizations. Given its early success and high demand, an additional investment in Economic Action Plan 2014 increased the funding available through the program to a total investment of $25 million.

On May 15, 2014, the National Conservation Plan was launched to provide a more coordinated approach to conservation efforts across the country. 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. To date, the Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program has invested nearly $6 million under Round I in 94 fisheries habitat restoration projects across Canada, an additional 128 projects under Round II are receiving up to $5.5 million. Most recently under Round III, up to $6.8 million was committed for over 80 projects nationally to be undertaken between 2014 and 2016. The fourth round of funding applications is now open until December 12, 2014 Details about the program can be found on the Program’s Web site where you can also sign up for updates.

Quick facts

Here are the details on the projects:

• Gestion du saumon de la rivière Restigouche et ses tributaires - Repairing the banks of the artificial lake to protect the Atlantic salmon's natural habitat downstream.
• Partenariat pour la gestion intégrée du bassin versant de la baie de Caraquet Inc. - Restoration of the Serbys Brook, including selective clean-up of wood and alder debris, shoreline stabilization and installation of deflectors to help evacuate sediment.
• Association des bassins versants de la Grande et Petite Rivière Tracadie - Improvement and restoration of Thomas Brook using ecological structures for the well-being of several fish species such as salmon.
• Comité de gestion environnementale de la rivière Pokemouche - Increasing fish productivity in Cowan's Creek to improve the recreational fishery through selective clean-up, installation of support walls and planting of trees and shrub seedlings.
• Southeastern Anglers Association - The project will improve fish habitat for brook trout and Atlantic salmon by reducing watercourse fragmentation due to poor culvert installation, repairing old restoration structures, restoring eroded stream banks and removing alder overgrowth.

Under the first round of the Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program, more than $521,000 had been made available for 12 projects in New Brunswick.

Under the second round, $473,135 had been made available for 16 projects in New Brunswick.

Quotes

“Our Government is committed to supporting the individuals and organizations who are working along the shores of lakes, rivers and streams across this country to protect and restore fishing habitats for future generations. Recreational fishing is an important economic activity which attracts thousands of visitors to Canada and contributes billions of dollars to our economy every year. The projects funded by the Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program will benefit Canadian communities for years to come.”

The Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development and Member of Parliament for Madawaska-Restigouche