Aquatic Habitat Restoration Fund

The Aquatic Habitat Restoration Fund (AHRF) was developed in response to concerns raised by Indigenous groups during consultations on the Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMX). These concerns include the potential impacts of development on fish and fish habitat and the general state of fishery resources based on cumulative effects from development projects.

AHRF provided $75 million Grants & Contributions funding until March 31, 2025. AHRF was designed to collaboratively develop an aquatic habitat restoration program, with eligible Indigenous groups, that provided funding for community capacity and Indigenous-led aquatic habitat restoration activities in freshwater and marine ecosystems.

Goals

1. To build capacity within Indigenous groups to enable habitat restoration in areas of priority to Indigenous groups.
2. To rehabilitate aquatic habitats and contribute to the mitigation of stressors affecting marine, coastal, and freshwater species and their habitats.
3. To contribute to the long-term sustainability of aquatic, coastal and riparian habitats through monitoring and maintenance.
4. To contribute to strategic planning and studies in coastal and riparian areas.

How it worked

Eligible areas for the Aquatic Habitat Restoration Fund projects were the Salish Sea, the Fraser River watershed and inland watersheds along the TMX pipeline corridor in British Columbia and Alberta. This was consistent with the geographic scope of consultation for TMX.

The initiative funded Indigenous capacity and projects that supported the restoration of fish and fish habitat. In consideration of Indigenous interests, funding was directed to support the following activities:

• protecting and recovering aquatic species
• promoting and supporting stewardship, outreach and education
• mitigating threats
• protecting, enhancing, restoring aquatic species’ habitat
• building capacity of Indigenous peoples
• conducting studies

Related initiatives

• Terrestrial Studies Initiative
• Terrestrial Cumulative Effects Initiative
• Salish Sea Initiative
• Aquatic Ecosystems Restoration Fund

Lead department: Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)