Aquatic Habitat Restoration Fund

The Aquatic Habitat Restoration Fund is an accommodation measure that responds to concerns raised by Indigenous groups during consultations on the Trans Mountain Expansion (TMX) project about the potential impacts of development on fish and fish habitat and the general state of fisheries resources based on cumulative effects from development projects.

 

Through this initiative, the Government of Canada and eligible Indigenous groups are collaboratively developing an aquatic habitat restoration program to restore marine and freshwater aquatic ecosystems and contribute to the sustainability of fish and fish habitat.

How it works

Consistent with the geographic scope of consultation for the TMX project, eligible areas for the Aquatic Habitat Restoration Fund projects are the Salish Sea, the Fraser River watershed and inland watersheds along the TMX pipeline corridor in British Columbia and Alberta. Project selection and the distribution of project funding are being determined as the program is developed and explored with Indigenous groups.

The initiative funds Indigenous capacity and projects that support the restoration of fish and fish habitat. In consideration of Indigenous interests, funding can be 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

Funding for the measure

 

Lead department: Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)