Government of Canada and Government of British Columbia announce the British Columbia Fisheries Fund to support the fish and seafood sector

Canada and British Columbia’s fish and seafood sector is evolving rapidly and needs the tools to adapt to changing market, environmental, and technological realities. Helping the industry innovate and reach new markets is central to keeping it competitive and resilient for the long term.

Victoria, British Columbia - Canada and British Columbia’s fish and seafood sector is evolving rapidly and needs the tools to adapt to changing market, environmental, and technological realities. Helping the industry innovate and reach new markets is central to keeping it competitive and resilient for the long term.

Today, the Honourable Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries, the Honourable Randene Neill, British Columbia Minister of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship and Minister Responsible for Fisheries, and the Honourable Lana Popham, British Columbia Minister of Agriculture and Food, announced the British Columbia Fisheries Fund (BCFF), with this joint Canada-British Columbia investment of $106.5 million over five years.

The BCFF builds on the success of the British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund (BCSRIF), and will continue to support the conservation and recovery of wild Pacific salmon. Wild Pacific salmon are woven into the economy and the culture of coastal and Indigenous communities across British Columbia. Protecting the habitat they depend on, remains central to the work the BCFF will support. Projects funded through BCFF will build on BCSRIF’s work to restore and enhance salmon habitat to support British Columbia’s fish and seafood sector.

Market development and diversification for the commercial fishing sector is a new pillar in this Fish Fund renewal, and responds directly to what the sector is saying: reaching new markets is essential to competitive and resilient fisheries.