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BC Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund (BCSRIF)

Program Category: Climate Adaptation, Climate Mitigation, Community Infrastructure
Program Sub-Category: Food Security, Environmental Stewardship, Economic Development, Innovation
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Status: Closed

Funder

Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Deadline Details

To be determined

Funder Organization Type

  • Federal Government
  • BC Provincial Government

In Partnership With

BC Provincial Government

The British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund is a contribution program funded jointly by the federal and provincial government. The fund will provide an investment of up to $285.70 million over 7 years (i.e. until March 31, 2026) to support BC’s fish and seafood sector, and to ensure the sustainability of wild Pacific salmon and other BC fish stocks. Current priorities for the fund are salmon ecosystems, salmon habitats, and sustainable fisheries.
 
The British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund focuses on 3 areas:
  • Innovation to encourage the development of new technologies to increase productivity and help meet conservation and sustainability objectives, including the protection and restoration of wild BC stocks 
  • Infrastructure to encourage capital investments in new products, processes or technologies to support the advancement of sustainable fishing practices and the protection and restoration of wild BC stocks, including Pacific salmon 
  • Science partnerships to support collaborations with academia and other research institutions to improve our knowledge and understanding of impacts to wild stocks and develop sustainable fishing practices
 

Eligible Community

Those who are eligible to apply are British Columbia-based:

  • Indigenous groups
  • commercial enterprises, including fishers, aquaculturists and seafood processors
  • universities and academics
  • industry associations
  • other organizations, such as research institutions and stewardship groups

To be eligible for funding, you must:

  • reside in British Columbia
  • be active in or support activities related to the fish and seafood harvesting, processing or aquaculture sectors
  • demonstrate protection and restoration benefits to priority BC wild stocks, such as salmon, or to the environmental or economic sustainability of the fisheries and seafood sector in British Columbia 
 

Required Community Contribution

No community contribution required

BCSRIF funding can support up to:
• 100% of the total eligible costs of the activity for non-commercial organizations;
• 90% of the total eligible costs for commercial recipients with enterprises of fewer than 19 employees;
• 75% of the total eligible costs of the activity for commercial recipients with enterprises of between 20 and 499 employees;
• 50% of the eligible costs for commercial recipients with 500 or more employees.
These are the maximum levels of support that can be provided. Applicants are encouraged to secure funding from additional sources to minimize risk and demonstrate support for their project. This factor will be considered during the evaluation of project applications. 

Funding Stacking Restrictions

Yes

The maximum level of total Canadian government assistance (federal, provincial, territorial and municipal) for the same eligible costs of this program will not exceed:
1. For non-commercial organizations, I00% of the total eligible costs of the activity;
2. For commercial recipients with enterprises of fewer than 19 employees, 90% of the total eligible costs;
3. For commercial recipients with enterprises of between 20 and 499 employees, 75% of the total eligible costs of the activity;
4. For commercial recipients with 500 or more employees, 50% of the eligible costs.

This stacking limit must be respected when assistance is provided. In the event that actual total government assistance to a recipient exceeds the stacking limit, it will be necessary for the Department to adjust the level of assistance (and seek reimbursement, if necessary) so that the stacking limit is not exceeded. 

Other Eligible Applicants

Businesses / For-profit
Other
Indigenous Organizations
Non-governmental Organizations / Not-for-Profits
Academic Institutions


 

Type of Funding

  • Capital

Range of Funding Available per Project

  • Under $100 000
  • From $100 000 to $1 000 000
  • Over $1 000 000

Description of Funding

There is no pre-determined amount of funds per project. The level of financial support will be determined based on a variety of factors, including the number of applications received and available program funds remaining.

Percentage of Project Funded

The percentage funded can support:
• 100% of the total eligible costs of the activity for non-commercial organizations;
• 90% of the total eligible costs for commercial recipients with enterprises of fewer than 19 employees;
• 75% of the total eligible costs of the activity for commercial recipients with enterprises of between 20 and 499 employees;
• 50% of the eligible costs for commercial recipients with 500 or more employees. 

Eligible Costs

Engineering
Design
Planning
Operational and Maintenance Costs
Capital Costs
Community Engagement
Equipment/Material Purchase
Project Management
Staff Costs
Administration Fees
Research and Development

Examples of activities that are eligible for innovation funding:
  • Research and development of new innovations to contribute to the sustainability and enhanced product quality of the fish and seafood sector or support the protection and restoration of wild BC fish stocks
  • Pilots and testing of new innovations
  • Activities to introduce innovations to market
  • Initiatives supporting the creation of partnerships or networks that help innovation activities in the sector 
Examples of activities that are eligible for infrastructure funding:
  • Adopting new technologies, processes or equipment to improve the effectiveness, quality and sustainability of the fish and seafood sector, or that support the protection and restoration of wild BC fish stocks
  • Training associated with adaption of new technologies, processes or equipment 
Examples of activities that are eligible for science partnerships funding:
  • Science activities in support of the development of sustainable harvesting, processing and aquaculture technologies
  • Research on the impacts of ecosystem shifts on fish stocks, distributions and the commercial fishery
  • Initiatives supporting the creation of partnerships or networks that help scientific activities in the sector
  • Science activities that protect and restore the abundance of priority wild BC fish stocks, including wild salmon 

Reporting Requirements

No reporting requirements

Expected Timeframe for Funding Decision

6-8 months