The Honourable Loyola Hearn, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and the Honourable Greg Thompson, Minister of Veterans Affairs, announced last week that Canada’s New Government will be moving ahead with the establishment of a $30 million Atlantic Salmon Endowment Fund (ASEF).
"I am committed to conserving and restoring wild Atlantic salmon and its habitat on the Atlantic Coast," said Minister Hearn. "This $30 million investment will be used to assist projects that contribute to restoring and conserving salmon population in rivers in the Atlantic provinces and Quebec," added Minister Hearn.
"I am extremely pleased with this commitment to conserve wild Atlantic salmon populations," said Minister Thompson. "As the Minister responsible for New Brunswick, I am well aware of the importance of the wild salmon stock to this region."
The Fund will be administered by an arm’s-length organisation that will invest the $30 million grant. The income earned on the investment will be used to fund priority projects that help watershed and community organisations working on a range of wild Atlantic salmon habitat, enhancement, monitoring and conservation initiatives.
DFO is finalising arrangements with a recipient organisation. Further details will be provided in the coming months, once an Appropriation Act is passed and a funding agreement has been signed.
"This funding initiative demonstrates that Canada’s New Government is working hard to ensure a healthy environment for Atlantic salmon," said Minister MacKay.
