Letter: Urgent recommendation for the renewal and expansion of the British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund (BCSRIF)
Letter to Honourable Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries.
Since 2019, the BC Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund (BCSRIF) has been the catalyst for 170 projects to safeguard and recover Pacific salmon in coastal BC. Several projects funded by BCSRIF have been recognized by UNESCO as major contributors to the UN Ocean Decade, highlighting their importance to global marine health. The fund has supported over 3,500 jobs across urban and rural BC, and provided training for 2,700 people.
It’s set to expire at the end of March. However, Prime Minister Mark Carney committed to renewing and increasing funding for it in his 2025 election platform. On March 10th, Auston Chhor and Dave Scott have sent the following letter to the Honourable Minister Joanne Thompson to urge the federal government to renew and increase funding for BCSRIF.
March 10, 2026
The Honourable Joanne Thompson, P.C., M.P. Minister of Fisheries
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6
Subject: Urgent Recommendation for the Renewal and Expansion of the British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund (BCSRIF)
Dear Minister Thompson,
We are writing to strongly urge the federal government to renew and increase funding for the British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund (BCSRIF), which Prime Minister Mark Carney committed to in the 2025 Canada Strong Platform. As we approach the conclusion of the fund’s current mandate in March 2026, the future of Pacific salmon and the coastal communities and ecosystems that depend on them hangs in a delicate balance.
The Wild Salmon Program at the Raincoast Conservation Foundation operates at the intersection of rigorous peer-reviewed science and on-the-ground habitat restoration. BCSRIF has been a cornerstone in enabling our work to restore ecological connectivity and functioning in the Fraser River Estuary, which is one of the most important salmon-rearing habitats in the world.
Through the support of programs like BCSRIF, we have:
- Restored Critical Migration Pathways: We constructed five strategic breaches in the Steveston and North Arm jetties, allowing juvenile Pacific salmon to access vital salt marsh habitats that were previously blocked for over a century.
- Conducted Long-Term Monitoring: We maintained a robust monitoring program across 42 sites in the Fraser Estuary, providing the data necessary for evidence-based decision-making in salmon management. We conducted species-specific research that builds on local knowledge and further supports the conservation of threatened Fraser River salmonid populations.
The renewal of BCSRIF is not only an environmental necessity but a sound economic investment. Since its inception, BCSRIF has supported over 3,500 jobs, enabled specialized training for approximately 2,700 people, and empowered communities to take an active role in the stewardship, protection, and restoration of their watersheds.
BCSRIF has been integral to supporting First Nations communities, providing funding for Indigenous Guardians Programs, resource management branches, habitat restoration, and watershed governance projects. This is an important step towards developing viable and long-lasting co-management plans between federal, provincial, and First Nations governments.
The challenges facing salmon are intensifying, and the workforce committed to their protection and recovery must grow in tandem. Pacific salmon are the foundation of coastal ecosystems, economies, and communities. Recovering salmon on the BC coast will create a ripple effect of benefits that extend beyond the ecosystems they return to. It is imperative that we invest in the communities and people who will do the work to ensure that salmon thrive for generations to come. We look forward to the government making good on its commitment to renew and increase BCSRIF in the upcoming federal budget, ensuring that wild salmon remain a vibrant part of Canada’s ecosystems, economy, culture, and identity.
Sincerely,
Auston Chhor, MSc. RPBio
Salmon Habitat Biologist
Dave Scott, MSc. RPBio
Research and Restoration Lead, Lower Fraser Salmon Program
