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Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation funds five Quebec projects in first round of grants

June 25, 2008, Fredericton, NB • - Work to conserve wild Atlantic salmon stocks in Quebec got a $50,000 boost today when the new Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation (ASCF) announced its first round of successful grant applications. Five Quebec projects were among the 21 to be funded, which included five in Newfoundland-Labrador, four in Nova Scotia, four in New Brunswick, two in Prince Edward Island, and one region-wide proposal.

The total value of grants awarded by the Foundation is $275,150.

"The Foundation is very excited to recognize the first group of applicants to have received funding," ASCF Chair Honourable Rémi Bujold said at the announcement. Some 50 applications were submitted by conservation, environmental, sports angling and Aboriginal groups in Atlantic Canada and Quebec.

The Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation is a volunteer, non-profit, charitable organization established with the goal of helping to achieve healthy and sustainable wild Atlantic salmon stocks in Atlantic Canada and Québec. Funded with a start-up grant of $30 million from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the Foundation has created a trust fund to promote and strengthen partnerships among groups working to conserve wild Atlantic salmon. Conservation projects and program administration are financed from interest earned by the trust fund.

Applications submitted for this first round of grants were assessed and selected by the Foundation's five provincial advisory committees and its Central Advisory Committee. Each province was allocated $50,000 to distribute.

The $50,000 awarded in Quebec includes: $15,000 to the Fouquette River Watershed Committee; $10,000 to the [Regroupement des riviìres Rimouski, Matane et Mitis $10,000 to the Matapedia River Watershed Committee; $10,000 to the Jacques Cartier Watershed Corporation; $5000 to the Mars River Sport Fishers' Association.

"Each of these projects will contribute significantly to the reestablishment and conservation of wild Atlantic salmon in the province of Quebec," said Mr. Bujold. "This fishery is essential not only to the province's ecology, but also to the region's growing eco-tourism industry. I am extremely impressed with the caliber of the work that is being done, and will be done, in our province thanks to this new Foundation .

"When the Foundation was established our goal was to fund high-quality initiatives focused on strengthening conservation of wild Atlantic salmon and salmon habitat," he added. "All of us involved with ASCF were very impressed with the quality and quantity of applications we received. This shows that there is widespread and active interest in, and commitment to, conservation of the wild Atlantic salmon in Eastern Canada. The work these first-funded groups plan over the next year is sure to go a long way in assuring a bright future for this signature Atlantic resource."

Work on the spring 2008 projects will begin immediately, since all involve extensive work in the field. Meanwhile, preparation for the next round of applications has already begun.

"We are already encouraging all groups interested in preserving and restoring wild Atlantic stocks in their area to apply for grants next year," said Mr. Bujold. The next round of applications grants will open on 1 November 2008.

For more information on the Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation please visit the website at www.salmonconservation.ca.