Canada to Restore Recreational Fisheries Habitat

The Government of Canada to invest up to $5.5 million to restore recreational fisheries habitat through the National Conservation Plan

Member of Parliament for Etobicoke – Lakeshore, Bernard Trottier, on behalf of the Honorable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, announced that, under the second round of the Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program, the Government of Canada will provide up to $38,935 to The Living City Foundation to conserve fish habitat in Toronto through the Long Pond Shoreline Enhancement Project.

The Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program was announced in Economic Action Plan 2013 to support fisheries habitat restoration projects led by recreational fishing and angling groups, as well as conservation organizations. Given its early success and high demand, an additional investment in Economic Action Plan 2014 increased the funding available through the program to a total investment of $25 million.

“Our Government is committed to supporting the individuals and organizations who are working along the shores of lakes, rivers and streams across this country to protect and restore fishing habitats for future generations,” Trottier said. “Recreational fishing is an important economic activity which attracts thousands of visitors to Canada and contributes billions of dollars to our economy every year. The projects funded by the Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program will benefit Canadian communities for years to come.”

On May 15, 2014, the National Conservation Plan was launched to provide a more coordinated approach to conservation efforts across the country. 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. To date, the Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program has invested nearly $6 million (Round I), in 94 fisheries habitat restoration projects across Canada and funding to support up to an additional 128 projects (Round II) is currently underway.

The Long Pond Shoreline Enhancement Project will restore a degraded shoreline along the north shore of Long Pond located within the Toronto Islands. The goal of the project is to restore a previously disturbed shoreline into a naturalized aquatic habitat. The purpose of the project is provide critical foraging, refuge and overwintering habitat with a focus on enhancing existing habitat and increasing productivity of northern pike, largemouth bass and panfish such as yellow perch and pumpkinseed; which are desirable angling species. Shoreline enhancement work will consist of installing coarse woody debris to improve structural habitat; regarding the shoreline using a variety of substrates to create diverse fish habitats and by planting zones of emergent and riparian vegetation to improve food web dynamics. Interpretive signage will be placed at the trailhead and at the site to provide information to visitors.

Under the first round of the Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program, up to $1,239,000 had been made available for 16 projects in Ontario. Up to $5.5 million for 128 projects to restore recreational fisheries habitat through Round II has been approved nationally.