Pacific salmon hold tremendous value for natural ecosystems, cultural and spiritual practices, jobs and income, and recreational enjoyment along the coast and inland watersheds of British Columbia.

“Understanding the impacts of sea-level rise and other effects of climate change on coastal estuaries is vital to improving the health of wild fish stocks in BC. The Nature Trust of British Columbia’s important work to monitor, assess and restore this crucial habitat for Pacific salmon, in collaboration with First Nations partners is central to our goal of protecting the Pacific salmon population. This endorsement by UNESCO shows that we are on the right track towards achieving our goal of healthy ecosystems and fish stocks in BC.”

The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

“Although estuaries and coastal wetlands make up less than three per cent of our coastline, they support over 80 per cent of BC’s coastal fish and wildlife. Congratulations to the Nature Trust of British Columbia and its many partners for receiving international recognition for your outstanding work to preserve these ecosystems. The accolades you’ve received from UNESCO – one of the world’s most preeminent organizations for international cooperation – are hard earned and very well deserved.”

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources

“It is an honour to have the Enhancing Estuary Resilience in Coastal BC Project recognized and endorsed by UNESCO as part of the Ocean Decade. To be endorsed and to have our project attached to the Cultural Heritage Framework Programme demonstrates how impactful a project can be that engages meaningfully with indigenous communities to facilitate co-design, develop capacity, enable greater diversity and showcase the integration of science and cultural knowledge and heritage. This recognition is a reflection of all of our partners’ commitment throughout the coast of British Columbia to working together in a meaningful and collaborative way to ensure these ecosystems are resilient into the future, not only to support fish and wildlife but also the coastal communities that rely upon them.”

Tom Reid, West Coast Conservation Land Manager, Nature Trust of British Columbia 

• Estuaries and coastal wetlands comprise less than 3% of BC’s coastline, yet they support over 80% of the province’s coastal fish and wildlife. The health of estuary ecosystems is vulnerable to impacts of climate change through rising sea levels, ocean acidification, temperature and salinity changes, and other factors.

• The Nature Trust of British Columbia received project funding of $8,552,415 from July 2019 to March 2024, and is receiving $3,493,975 from May 2023 to March 2026.

• Since inception, 155 projects have received BCSRIF funding, representing an investment of more than $214.67 million in the rebuilding of wild Pacific salmon stocks and supporting the BC fish and seafood sector. 

• Budget 2021 committed an additional $100 million in new federal funding to expand the BCSRIF program as a key component of the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative (PSSI), bringing Canada’s total contribution to $200 million over seven years. With the Government of British Columbia’s mandate commitment to double its investment, the Province is providing $85.7 million over seven years.

• The Government of Canada's Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative is the largest-ever government investment to date in efforts to save Pacific salmon. Through this investment, Canada will undertake a strategic and coordinated long-term response, rooted in collaborative action, to stabilize and restore Pacific salmon for the ecosystems, people, and communities that depend upon their sustainability.

• Under PSSI, the newly created Habitat Restoration Center of Expertise adds expanded capacity and new technical experts, including coastal engineers and geomorphologists, to support nature-based solutions that will be more resilient and effective in the face of changing climatic pressures to support salmon conservation and recovery.

• Canada is an active supporter of the UN Ocean Decade and a member of the Ocean Decade Alliance. Fisheries and Oceans Canada is committed to working with partners to continue to advance a strong and unique Canadian contribution. To date, nearly 100 Canadian-led projects have received endorsement from UNESCO as official contributions to the UN Ocean Decade. 

Associated links

• Estuary Resilience
• Nature Trust of British Columbia
• A new batch of endorsed ocean actions to scale up the global impact of the Ocean Decade
• British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund
• Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative
• The Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia team up to protect salmon populations and the fisheries they support
• Canada and the Ocean Decade

Jérémy Collard
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
jeremy.collard@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Media Relations
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
613-990-7537
Media.xncr@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

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