The Honorable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, on behalf of the Honorable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, announced $1.2 million in funding under the Aquatic Ecosystems Restoration Fund (AERF), to support wild Atlantic salmon in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The funding is going towards the Environment Resources Management Association (ERMA)—Exploits River Atlantic Salmon Collaborative Watershed Restoration Approach. A collaboration between ERMA and Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador (MUNL), the project will investigate strategies to improve the productivity of wild Atlantic salmon in the province by focusing on the species’ spawning areas and food resources and supporting watershed-specific restoration plans.

As part of the Oceans Protection Plan, AERF supports projects that contribute to restoration priorities in coastal and upstream areas that have a direct impact on coastal aquatic ecosystems; contribute to the development and implementation of aquatic restoration plans; and stimulate partnership with Indigenous Peoples, conservation groups, and academia to address threats to Canadian aquatic species and habitats. Activities funded under AERF help to address the root causes of impacts on those environments and help protect and restore aquatic habitats for Canada’s coastline, estuaries, and inland regions.

The Oceans Protection Plan is a Canadian success story. When Indigenous Peoples, industry, communities, experts, academia, and government work together to protect our environment, grow our economy, and support good jobs across the country, we deliver real results. Canada’s Oceans Protection Plan is keeping our oceans and coasts healthy, advancing reconciliation, and building a clean future for our children and grandchildren.

“Funding provided by DFO through the Aquatic Ecosystems Restoration Fund will provide ERMA with $1.2 million over three years to investigate bottlenecks that limit the freshwater productivity of wild Atlantic salmon in Newfoundland and Labrador. A collaborative team from ERMA and Memorial University of Newfoundland will examine strategies to improve the productivity of Atlantic salmon. The Exploits River is the largest producer of wild Atlantic salmon in Newfoundland, and our project will assist in providing a sustainable run for future generations,” commented Kevin Sheppard, Vice Chair of the ERMA Board of Directors.

Quick Facts

• Since 2016, the Government of Canada has dedicated $3.5 billion to the Oceans Protection Plan, making it the largest investment Canada has ever made to protect its coasts and waterways.
• In December 2022, the Government of Canada announced an investment of $75 million over five years for the Aquatic Ecosystems Restoration Fund as part of the expanded Oceans Protection Plan to support projects that conserve and restore priority coastal and upstream aquatic areas.
• The Government of Canada made significant investments in the Restoration Community under the Coastal Restoration Fund in 2017, and the Aquatic Ecosystems Restoration Fund continues to bring Indigenous groups, resource users, community organizations, and other groups together to encourage local capacity to support aquatic habitat restoration, maintenance, and revitalization.
• The project will provide four full-time positions, two summer students, and two seasonal technicians over the three-year span of the work.