During Invasive Species Awareness Week, the Honorable Élisabeth Brière, Minister of National Revenue, on behalf of the Honorable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, announced more than $3.7 million in contribution funding for seven multi-year projects to combat aquatic invasive species across the country. This funding is a result of a national call for proposals under the $8.75 million Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Fund (AISPF).

The AISPF aims to strengthen partnerships between federal, provincial, and territorial governments, Indigenous communities, stakeholders, and the general public. These partnerships will facilitate on-the-ground, preventative actions against aquatic invasive species, as well as education, outreach, detection, and response activities.

The announcement took place at the Regroupement national des conseils régionaux de l’environnement du Québec’s (RNCREQ) first National Forum on Aquatic Invasive Species (in French only). RNCREQ received $644,500 in directed AISPF funding in 2023 toward a multi-year project to support regional and interregional collaboration and knowledge sharing within the Province of Quebec, including the creation of this forum. The forum aims to improve prevention and management methods for aquatic invasive species by using the most recent scientific advances.

Prevention is the most efficient and cost-effective way of managing aquatic invasive species. That is why Invasive Species Awareness Week is so important. Each year, it aims to raise awareness among Canadians regarding the threat of invasive species and what they can do to help prevent their introduction and spread. Canadians should always clean, drain, and dry their watercraft and equipment after leaving a body of water. And they should never let loose any pets, plants, live bait or food, or sportfish into new bodies of water, drains, or the ocean.

“Canada is a unique place with magnificent landscapes and waterways. It’s crucial that we work together to protect our ecosystems, especially from invasive species. I am pleased to announce an investment of over $3.7 million for seven Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Fund projects that will prevent the introduction, spread and establishment of aquatic invasive species in our waters,” said the Honorable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.

Quick Facts

• In addition to the seven projects announced today, two projects from the national call for proposals were previously announced. This brings the current funding total from the national call for proposals to $4.6 million.
  • $400,000 in contribution funding for the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation to conduct invasive mussel early detection and monitoring as part of British Columbia’s Invasive Mussel Defence Program.
  • $500,000 in contribution funding for the Comité ZIP des Îles-de-la-Madeleine to combat the spread of aquatic invasive species in the Magdalen Islands, including European Green Crab and Yellow Tunicate.
• Aquatic invasive species are freshwater or marine plants, animals, algae, and micro-organisms introduced outside their natural or past distribution. They have significant negative impacts on the environment, economy, society, and human health.
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada collaborates with partners across Canada to prevent their introduction, establishment, and spread in waterways.