Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) announced a CAD 106.5 million (USD 77.4 million, EUR 66.2 million) fund for the seafood sector in British Columbia.
The funding, to be distributed over five years, will come from a joint Canada-British Columbia investment and will build on the British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund, DFO said. Dubbed the Brish Columbia Fisheries Fund (BCFF), the money will go toward supporting the conservation and recovery of wild Pacific salmon.
"The British Columbia Fisheries Fund continues seven years of joint work with the province, building on our success and creating new opportunities,” Canada Minister of Fisheries Joanne Thompson said in a release. “There is room in it for harvesters and scientists to work together, which matters as conditions in the water keep changing. The program also helps fund the equipment and the technology that harvesters and processors need. Finding new markets is a new priority in this Fish Fund renewal, and that reflects the reality of the industry in this present moment.”
Thompson has pledged support from the DFO for the country’s seafood industry and announced the renewal of Canada’s Fisheries fund at this year's Seafood Expo North America. The country has already begun investing in Canadian provinces and recently established a CAD 50 million (USD 36.3 million, EUR 31.1 million) fund for Quebec.
DFO said the new fund for British Columbia will build on past work to protect salmon habitat and will also work on market development and diversification for the province’s commercial fishing sector.
“The BCFF will support the sustainable, long-term growth of British Columbia’s fish and seafood sector by increasing the value of products and strengthening their recognition in the marketplace,” DFO said. “With the new market development and diversification pillar, the BCFF will boost commercial fisheries and seafood markets, all while continuing to prioritize coastal marine stewardship, watershed restoration, and healthy aquatic and coastal ecosystems.”
The new fund will be built on four pillars: innovation, infrastructure, scientific partnerships, and market development and diversification.
“British Columbia’s diverse seafood industry produces high-value, in-demand sustainable products that are enjoyed by families throughout the province and around the world,” British Columbia Minister of Agriculture and Food Lana Popham said. “This new fund will help B.C.’s fisheries increase opportunities and competitiveness while providing good jobs for British Columbians and supporting economic growth in coastal communities for generations to come.”
The original B.C. Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund invested in 170 different projects across the province to develop new technologies to support conservation and recovery of Pacific salmon.
B.C. Minister of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship Randene Neill said the new fund will carry on that mission to support fisheries.
“Salmon restoration is the foundation of a strong and sustainable seafood sector. Without healthy salmon populations and resilient watersheds, there is no long-term future for the markets, jobs, and communities that depend on them,” Neill said. “Through the BCFF, we are investing in projects that support sustainable fisheries and strengthen the health of our watersheds and oceans.”
