The PEI Liquor Control Commission (PEILCC) and the Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation (ASCF) made this year’s Earth Day an even bigger celebration than usual for river conservation in Prince Edward Island. The PEILCC and the Foundation announced $85,107 in funding for six projects to preserve rivers and their wild Atlantic salmon in PEI.
This past year saw the largest number of grants and the highest amount of funding ever dispensed. Funds available to PEI projects were made possible through a partnership between ASCF and the PEI Liquor Control Commission, which for the third year in a row mounted a special fund-raising initiative with all proceeds dedicated to salmon conservation projects in the province.
“All of us with ASCF are very grateful to the PEI Liquor Control Commission, its customers and participating product suppliers for their valuable support,” said foundation director, Paul Michael. “Partnerships like this one take us more quickly towards our goal of assuring the survival of wild Atlantic salmon.”
“Prince Edward Island conservation groups are delivering a number of long-range, multi-year projects,” noted Hon. Robert Henderson, minister responsible for the PEI Liquor Control Commission. “This shows that interest in conservation of rivers and the wild Atlantic salmon population is widespread, active and enduring. The PEI Liquor Control Commission is proud to partner with the ASCF to generate support for this important work.”
Five of the six projects funded in PEI are multi-year projects being completed over three years, including:
• $20,000 to the Souris & Area Branch of the PEI Wildlife Federation, representing the third installment of a three-year commitment to restore salmon habitat and population in the area.
• $19,000 to the Central Queens Wildlife Federation as the third installment to restore spawning and rearing habitat and improve salmon accessibility to the West (Eliot) River Watershed.
• $18,000 to the Prince County Chapter of Trout Unlimited as the third installment for its Mill River salmon enhancement project.
• $6,000 to the Morell River Management Coop for year three of restoration of the Atlantic salmon population of Bristol Creek, Kings County.
• $5,000 to the Morell River Management Coop as the first installment in a two-year project for habitat reclamation on the Morell River.
• $7,107 to the Richmond Bay Watershed Association for its Grassroots Conservation in Action Project “Phase Two.”
The Foundation’s 2014 request for applications attracted 74 submissions from conservation, environmental, sports angling and Aboriginal groups from across Atlantic Canada and Québec to fund projects slated for the 2014 season. All six applications from PEI received funding.
Each was assessed and recommended for funding by the Foundation’s PEI Advisory Committee. “As is the case every year, we were very impressed with the quality and quantity of the applications we received,” said Mr. Michael.
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 an endowment from the Government of Canada, the proceeds from partnership arrangements, sponsorships, and donations from generous supporters, 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.
The Prince Edward Island Liquor Control Commission (PEILCC) is a crown corporation responsible for the administration of the PEI Liquor Control Act and Regulations, along with the purchase, control, and sale of all beverage alcohol in the province.