Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation funds 31 projects totaling $330,000

April 02, 2012

April 2, 2012, Fredericton, NB – Conservation work to preserve and grow wild Atlantic salmon stocks will receive close to $330,000 in funding from the Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation (ASCF) this year. The Foundation announced its 2012 grant recipients today. A total of 31 projects have received support, with grant amounts ranging from $5,000 to $35,000.
“This is our fifth round of awards,” said ASCF Chair, the Honourable Rémi Bujold, when the successful applications were announced. “The Foundation has now gained recognition as the funding agent for wild Atlantic salmon conservation in Canada. We have established the Foundation as a reliable and long-term supporter of salmon conservation by community partners.”

This year’s round of competition attracted some 50 applications from conservation, environmental, sports angling and Aboriginal groups in Atlantic Canada and Québec looking to fund work slated for the 2012 season. “Some of the projects are long range, multi-year endeavours,” said the Hon. Bujold. “This shows the kind of widespread and active interest in, and commitment to, conservation of wild Atlantic salmon that is necessary to ensure the survival of this wonderful species.”

Of the 31 successful projects, four are interprovincial, with funding totaling $61,600; six are being conducted in New Brunswick, $50,000; nine are located in Nova Scotia, $52,000; four are in Prince Edward Island, $63,000; six are located in Québec, $50,000; and two are slated for Newfoundland and Labrador, $53,000.

Funding to PEI projects was increased this year through a partnership between the ASCF and the PEI Liquor Control Commission with the proceeds of a special sales event being dedicated to salmon conservation projects.

“Again this year, all of us involved with ASCF were very impressed with the quality and quantity of applications we received,” said Hon. Bujold. Applications submitted for grants were assessed and selected by the Foundation’s five provincial advisory committees and its Central Advisory Committee.

The Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation is a volunteer, non-profit, charitable organization established with the goal of helping to achieve healthy and sustainable wild Atlantic salmon stocks in Atlantic Canada and Québec. Funded with an endowment from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the Foundation has created a trust fund to promote and strengthen partnerships among groups working to conserve wild Atlantic salmon. Conservation projects and program administration are financed from interest earned by the trust fund.

NOTE: A complete list of funded projects are attached, click here to view.

Contacts:

Stephen Chase, Executive Director, ASCF
Telephone: 506-455-9900

E-mail: chasesa@salmonconservation.ca

Rosalyn Smedley

Telephone: 506-455-9900

E-mail: roz@salmonconservation.ca