The Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation (ASCF) is seeking proposals for its grant program that support activities related to the conservation of the wild Atlantic salmon and its habitat.

The goal of the Foundation is to help achieve healthy and sustainable wild Atlantic salmon stocks in Atlantic Canada and Quebec through partnerships among volunteer conservation groups, Indigenous organizations, governments and others.

The Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation is an independent, federally incorporated, non-profit organization, which was established through a one-time grant of $30 million from the Government of Canada.

Priority Areas

2021 Provincial Conservation Priorities:

• New Brunswick: Priority will be given to projects derived from a watershed management, restoration or recovery action plan that identifies, prioritizes and seeks to address limiting factors impacting salmon production and/or survival.
• Newfoundland & Labrador: Further to eligible project categories, priority will be given to projects that:
  • improve habitat, freshwater connectivity, and/or water quality;
  • assess/increase salmon populations;
  • education and public awareness;
  • watershed planning.
• Nova Scotia: Priority will be given to projects that develop or are based on a watershed management plan. Implementation strategies from completed plans that focus on the following approaches will receive priority:
  • improve habitat, habitat access and connectivity;
  • mitigate the impact of acid rain;
  • address limiting factors impacting salmon production or survival;
  • support the integration in projects of education related to Atlantic salmon for the public and particularly youth.
• Prince Edward Island: Priority will be given to projects guided by the renewed Conservation Strategy for Atlantic salmon or derived from a watershed management plan, action plan, or restoration plan that identifies, prioritizes, and seeks to:
  • identify limiting factors impacting salmon production;
  • identify limiting factors impacting salmon survival;
  • maintain and/or improve habitat for Atlantic salmon;
  • gather data on PEI salmon stocks;
  • develop a watershed management plan, action plan, or restoration plan.
• Quebec: Priority will be given to projects that develop or implement a plan or a strategy for salmon and its habitat. Preference will be given to projects that aim to acquire knowledge related to salmon population abundance as well as to characterization, improvement and protection of salmon habitat.
• Applied Scientific Research: To strategically direct applied scientific research, ASCF’s Scientific Advisory Committee has identified key topics that will be top priority going forward

Funding Information

• At least $1 million will be available for the 2021 round of grants for projects within Québec and the Atlantic provinces.
• Submissions for individual projects should not be less than $5,000 nor exceed a maximum of $50,000 (per year).

Eligible Project Categories

The Foundation will consider eligible projects from the following categories:

• Planning: Development of salmon and salmon habitat conservation plans for a watershed or sub-watershed (watershed planning).
• Habitat: Conservation, rebuilding and restoration of wild Atlantic salmon habitat.
• Populations: Conservation and restoring of wild Atlantic salmon stocks and populations.
• Access: Restoring access of wild Atlantic salmon to salmon habitat.
• Education: Public education and awareness of the importance of conservation of wild Atlantic salmon and its habitat.

Eligibility Criteria

The following groups and partnerships among these groups are eligible to submit proposals to the Foundation:

• Non-governmental organizations (e.g. community-based conservation organizations, cooperatives, watershed-based organizations, etc.)
• Municipalities
• Educational institutions
• Indigenous organizations

For more information, visit ASCF Grant Program.