Harper Government Commits Over $3.3 Million to Recreational Fisheries Conservation Projects in Quebec

QUÉBEC CITY, QUÉBEC--(Marketwired - March 3, 2015) -

Editors' Note: There is a photo associated with this press release.

Minister Steven Blaney, on behalf of the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, announced today that the Government of Canada has committed $3,397,929 to 43 fish habitat conservation projects throughout Quebec. These projects were approved for funding under the second and third rounds of the Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program (RFCPP).

Locally, here in Québec, two notable projects are benefitting from this investment. Regroupement des gestionnaires des ZEC de la Capitale-Nationale and SÉPAQ - Réserve faunique Portneuf are receiving a combined total of $88,470 to execute their respective projects.

As part of the National Conservation Plan, the RFCPP was created to restore Canada's waterways and to ensure sustainability and ongoing productivity of our recreational fisheries. Given its success in ensuring a more coordinated approach to conservation efforts across the country, and the high demand, the Government of Canada increased the investment in the Economic Action Plan 2014 to a total of $25 million.

To date, the Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program has approved funding of up to $4,569,840 for 61 projects in Quebec.

Since 2006, the Government of Canada has taken important steps to conserve and restore our country's natural environment and connect Canadians to our rich natural heritage. Details about the program can be found on the Program's Web site where you can also sign up for updates.

Quick Facts

- The Regroupement des gestionnaires des ZEC de la Capitale-Nationale project will reduce the impact of watercourse crossings on aquatic habitats in four controlled zones. The work includes the replacement of culverts, creation of spawning grounds through the clean-up of watercourses and the deposit of sediment. These activities will enable the implementation of any necessary corrective measures for the recovery and rehabilitation of fish habitats to encourage recreational fisheries.

- The SÉPAQ - Réserve faunique de Portneuf projects will create spawning grounds for brook trout in several lakes in the Réserve faunique de Portneuf including the brushing and development of access points, the dismantling of inactive beaver dams, the removal of debris and the repair of a fishway.

- Since the launch of the program, over $18 million has already been committed to more than 300 projects across Canada.

- Under the first round, the program awarded $5.9 million to 94 projects undertaken between 2013 and 2015.

- Under the second round, the program committed up to $5.5 million to 128 projects undertaken between 2014 and 2015.

- Under the third round of the RFCPP, up to $6.8M was committed for over 80 projects to be undertaken between 2014 and 2016.

- The fourth round of funding applications is now closed. Successful projects will be announced shortly.

Quotes

"The Recreational Fisheries Conservations Partnerships Program allows our Government to support an important economic sector while also ensuring sustainable fisheries. Our Government is proud to support their work that will benefit Canadian communities for years to come."

The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans

"Recreational fishing is an important economic activity which attracts thousands of visitors to Canada and contributes billions of dollars to our economy every year. SÉPAQ - Réserve faunique Portneuf and Regroupement des gestionnaires des ZEC de la Capitale-Nationale, like many Canadian groups, have done amazing work to ensure that real progress is achieved. I'm proud to be a part of a government committed to working with its citizens for the betterment of our natural environment."

The Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness and Member of Parliament for Lévis-Bellechasse

"The actions performed thanks to the Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program will enable us to implement necessary corrective measures for the recovery and rehabilitation of fish habitats to encourage recreational fisheries and restore degraded fish habitats."

Harold Castonguay, President, Regroupement des gestionnaires des ZEC de la Capitale-Nationale

"The creation of spawning grounds for brook trout in several lakes in the Réserve faunique de Portneuf will allow us to increase productivity of native populations of brook trout in the targeted lakes and increase fishing yields in lakes without resorting to stocking. These developments will enhance the quality of sport fishing for the public."

Marc-André Tremblay, Director, SÉPAQ - Réserve faunique Portneuf

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