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British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund - 5 year report (2019 -2024) Phase 1 summary: Supporting Pacific salmon and a sustainable fish and seafood sector in B.C.

Canada's fisheries funds

BCSRIF - 5 year report (2019 -2024) Phase 1 summary
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Table of contents

Acknowledgement

The British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund recognizes that the efforts of its funding recipients span numerous traditional territories of First Nations.

We honour the deep-rooted knowledge and stewardship that Indigenous Peoples bring to these lands. With heartfelt gratitude, we pay respect to those whose territories we work upon, live in, and serve.

Program overview

Launched in 2019, the British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund (BCSRIF) is a jointly funded contribution program led collaboratively between the Province of British Columbia (B.C.) and the Government of Canada.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Through the Integrated Fish and Seafood Sector Contribution Management Framework, BCSRIF supports the mandate of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) for managing fisheries sustainably. This includes conserving and restoring Pacific Salmon populations and their habitats, advancing technological innovation in monitoring, and strengthening environmental and research infrastructure. By fostering collaborative science, BCSRIF enables adaptive, evidence-based decision-making and supports the modernization of the fish and seafood sector.

Province of British Columbia

The program is British Columbia’s main avenue for funding efforts to restore salmon populations, improve watershed security and lead on the Coastal Marine Strategy. This work aligns with the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship (WLRS) mandate commitments to restore estuaries, inter-tidal zones, and critical salmon spawning habitats, and the ongoing implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA).

Together, these efforts reflect a shared commitment to the long-term sustainability and resilience of Pacific salmon and the communities that depend on them.

Section 1: Executive summary

At the conclusion of its first 5 years, the British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund has firmly established itself as a high-impact program, delivering measurable results across the province. Since 2019, BCSRIF has supported 97 projects with a total investment of $128.56 million, strategically allocated across three key pillars: Innovation, Scientific Partnerships, and Infrastructure. Through these pillars, BCSRIF has fostered the development of new technologies, and deepened scientific understanding to support the conservation and recovery of Pacific salmon.

This report highlights BCSRIF’s performance from 2019 to 2024, drawing on financial data, program evaluations, and annual recipient-reported outcomes to assess the program’s effectiveness and reach.

Findings illustrate how BCSRIF successfully implemented innovative program initiatives, refined structures, streamlined processes, and championed collaborative engagement.

The program’s initial 2019-2024 phase of funding has had a transformative impact on communities and ecosystems across B.C. It has driven job creation, capacity building, and collaborative partnerships with a wide range of recipients and stakeholders. These efforts have contributed to tangible ecosystem improvements for Pacific salmon and other wild fish stocks, laying the foundation for a B.C. salmon recovery economy.

BCSRIF’s success and momentum led to its renewal prior to the conclusion of the first phase, underscoring its value and impact. Over five years, the program has achieved major milestones and fostered collaborative achievements that have set new benchmarks and inspired future initiatives for both the fund and its recipients.

Five year highlights

BCSRIF-supported projects have achieved major milestones, reflecting the collective efforts of recipients, partners, and stakeholders. Five-year highlights showcase tangible ecological gains and socio-economic benefits, demonstrating the program’s broad and lasting impact.

1. Economic impact

BCSRIF recipients report wide reaching positive economic outcomes. Funding from 2019 - 2024 directly supported over 3,500 jobs, engaged more than 2,750 volunteers, and provided training for about 2,700 people, including all Employment Equity groupsFootnote 1.

Projects employed team members in diverse roles across B.C.’s salmon recovery economy, including Project Managers, Guardians, Technicians, Biologists and Post-doctoral Fellows in both rural and urban communities.

On the North Coast, the Highway 16 Corridor Fish Stranding project led by the Kitsumkalum Indian Band identified and began implementation of restoration prescriptions at priority fish stranding sites. The project employed individuals from rural and remote coastal communities to support this work, set to improve survival of juvenile Salmon populations (225).

The Coastal First Nations Salmon Enhancement and Restoration Project (300), led by the Great Bear Initiative Society, carried out facility assessments and infrastructure upgrades at six Indigenous community hatcheries on the North and Central Coast of B.C. The project employed and provided training opportunities for First Nations community members, working to address critical upgrades to water systems, electrical improvements, and fish health equipment.

2. Ecological benefits

BCSRIF has aligned project support with regional priorities, with emphasis on Pacific salmon initiatives. Notably, 83% of the Phase 1 funded projects concentrated specifically on Pacific salmon and salmon habitat.

BCSRIF also provided support for other ecologically and economically significant species groups, which include groundfish, shellfish, pelagics, kelp, and aquatic invasive species.

Phase 1 BCSRIF project focus by species group

In Resilient Waters – Restoring Connection to Off-channel Salmonid Habitat in the Lower Fraser River Watershed (276), ‘fish friendly’ designs were implemented at four sites, upgrading outdated flood infrastructure to protect and revitalize habitats for wild fish and salmon.

The project restored access to 115,000m2 of lost habitat for juvenile salmon and research from the project on post-construction effectiveness monitoring will guide future floodgate designs and operations.

3. Diverse expertise

BCSRIF funding supports a wide range of organizations that contribute diverse expertise in habitat restoration, salmon science, sustainable fisheries, seafood innovation and overall and primarily, salmon recovery efforts.

Phase 1 BCSRIF project proponents

BCSRIF projects are led by Indigenous communities, commercial and recreational fishing organizations, environmental non-governmental organizations, stewardship groups and academic institutions. In Phase 1, Indigenous organizations led 40% of funded projects, and over 74% of projects engaged with Indigenous partners in delivery of objectives.

Media Release: Government of Canada announces UNESCO endorsement for BCSRIF project

“To be endorsed and to have our project attached to the Cultural Heritage Framework Programme demonstrates how impactful a project can be that engages meaningfully with Indigenous communities to facilitate co-design, develop capacity, enable greater diversity and showcase the integration of science and cultural knowledge and heritage.”

- Tom Reid, West Coast Conservation Land Manager, Nature Trust of British Columbia

4. Collaborative implementation

BCSRIF prioritized strong partnerships, growing from over 230 in-kind partners at the outset of Phase 1 to 422 in 2023–24. Nearly half of projects addressed regional priorities, while five had international reach. Together, these figures highlight local impact and global relevance of BCSRIF’s salmon conservation efforts.

The International Pan-Pacific Salmon Expedition (Project 184A), led by the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission International Year of the Salmon, involved collaboration among five countries to develop the comprehensive program.

The expedition led to six synthesis papers on Pacific salmon and steelhead, with contributions from the 39 partnering organizations.

5. Regional focus

To reflect the broad ecological range of Pacific Salmon, BCSRIF investments were strategically distributed across the province.

In addition to regional coverage, 22% of projects reported province-wide or coast-wide scope. This broad distribution enabled meaningful support for remote, rural, and coastal communities.

Phase 1 projects by region

To aid Indigenous-led escapement monitoring, the Pacific Salmon Foundation (PSF) partnered with Indigenous groups in three key locations to implement video-based monitoring in the Central Coast.

By integrating Indigenous knowledge with AI-powered computer vision to improve salmon counts, these efforts enhance enumeration accuracy and strengthen First Nations collaboration in remote stock assessments (Project 045).

Section 2: Innovative program design

Governance model

As a joint DFO-B.C. contribution program, BCSRIF, builds internal and external capacity to meet national and provincial policy goals. The fund operates through:

This structure ensures alignment of projects with government priorities, promoting accountability, enhancing collaboration between ministries, and strengthening efforts in salmon recovery and fisheries management.

Maximizing impact: key connections

The BCSRIF governance framework enhances intergovernmental collaboration and program delivery by leveraging federal and regional expertise through:

Program implementation

Investment value

BCSRIF is a joint federal-provincial initiative (70% funded by Canada, 30% by British Columbia). The BCSRIF Secretariat within Fisheries and Oceans Canada administers the program, overseeing project management, financial administration, client services and reporting.

BCSRIF’s investment value is underscored by its strategic efficiency, adaptability, and strong fiscal stewardship. By assigning regional staff to area-based projects, the program reduced travel costs and strengthened local engagement with funding recipients and stakeholders. Despite facing significant external challenges—including the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters, regulatory changes, and political transitions—BCSRIF maintained effective oversight through strategic monitoring and community-based project support. These efforts enabled the program to proactively address project-level impacts and maintain momentum, resulting in an impressive 99% utilization of allocated funds—a strong indicator of effective planning and execution. Minor variances were largely attributable to external factors such as permitting delays, evolving regulations, and departmental changes. Importantly, BCSRIF’s rigorous due diligence processes successfully identified a small portion of ineligible expenses, demonstrating a commitment to internal controls.

Recipients leveraged $57.4 million of in-kind resources, enhancing the total program value to $186 million, with contributions from Indigenous organizations, government agencies, non-profits, industry, and academia.

Investment summary

Leveraging in-kind investments

For every $1.00 of BCSRIF funding, $0.45 was invested through in-kind contributions.

 

Comprehensive program management

The BCSRIF Secretariat offers comprehensive support throughout the project funding cycle, from initial applicant engagement to final reporting.

Conducting meaningful application reviews

BCSRIF uses an innovative review process that connects review teams and applicants for open discussion and feedback, regardless of the outcome. This approach supports timely funding decisions and strengthens relationships among subject matter experts across sectors. In Phase 1, BCSRIF received 318 applications over two intakes, requesting a total of $524 million—over four times the available funding. This highlights extremely strong interest in the program and the program’s significant impact.

Streamlining agreements

BCSRIF Project teams are made up of Project Officers and Technical Advisors, collaborating with recipients from contribution agreement negotiations to project monitoring. This team approach connects recipients with direct program expertise for faster approvals and better alignment with project team needs. Utilization of program Director-level approval ensures rapid ratification and implementation, optimizing fund utilization and effectiveness.

Monitoring progress and measuring impact

The BCSRIF Strategic Monitoring Plan supports customized monitoring, from desktop check-ins to field interviews. The Canadian Fisheries Fund Information Storage Hub (CFFISH) tracks project data and outcomes for evaluations and reporting. BCSRIF's dedicated reporting team ensures connection to project outcomes and supports internal review of recipient-reported results.

 

Operational achievements and refinement

BCSRIF’s commitment to excellence is reflected in its operational achievements and ongoing program refinements. Through Phase 1, the program has demonstrated a strong capacity to deliver timely, responsive, and inclusive support to project proponents across British Columbia. This section highlights key accomplishments in service delivery, stakeholder engagement, and the integration of Indigenous perspectives—each contributing to a more effective and equitable funding model.

Delivering exceptional service

BCSRIF consistently surpasses federal service standard targets for grants and contributions programs, ensuring timely decision-making and efficient project implementation, reflected in service standard achievements in Phase 1.

Phase 1 service standards

These results reflect BCSRIF’s commitment to operational excellence and responsiveness, enabling proponents to move forward with confidence and clarity. By exceeding service standards, the program accelerates contribution agreement negotiations and project start-up timelines—ensuring that funding translates into on-the-ground results faster for project delivery teams and stakeholders.

 

Improving diversity of voices

During Phase 1 of the program, BCSRIF prioritized stakeholder engagement through strategic outreach including press releases, media publications, as well as direct engagement through meetings and presentations.

To strengthen connections with Indigenous organizations in B.C., BCSRIF partnered with the National Indigenous Fisheries Institute and the First Nations Fisheries Council through a facilitated, Indigenous-led initiative. This one-year project—Historical Review and Indigenous Engagement to Increase Efficacy of, and Indigenous Participation in, the British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund (017)—aimed to enhance Indigenous engagement across the province.

The collaboration led to $9.8 million in funding for five additional Indigenous-led projects and increased community awareness of the BCSRIF process. It also informed ongoing improvements to BCSRIF’s intake and negotiation processes by integrating Indigenous perspectives.

Collaborative stakeholder engagement

Collaborative stakeholder engagement is central to BCSRIF’s adaptive program design. The program’s flexible structure allows it to respond to the evolving needs of project recipients, ensuring relevance and responsiveness.

The BCSRIF Proposal Referral Matrix supported this adaptability by efficiently engaging over 100 federal and provincial Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) across most sectors in DFO Pacific Region to ensure that recommended proposals aligned with scientific standards and government priorities.

Stakeholder collaboration continues to drive BCSRIF’s strategic direction in Phase 2 of BCSRIF, where priorities emphasize Indigenous leadership, climate resilience, and strong, enduring partnerships. Ongoing program refinements are informed by continuous dialogue with partners and communities, supporting the co-development of culturally grounded, science-based solutions. These efforts are designed to foster resilient ecosystems and stable salmon populations, reinforcing BCSRIF’s commitment to sustainable, community-driven outcomes.

Program evaluation and improvement

BCSRIF refers to recipient-reported outcomes and formal evaluations to refine its operations and improve program delivery. Insights from the Fisheries and Oceans Canada - 2023 Program evaluation led to streamlined processes, enhanced data systems, and long-term planning—ensuring the program remains responsive, efficient, and aligned with evolving priorities.

Table 1 outlines BCSRIF’s strategic response to report recommendations through the Management Action Plan (MAP).

Table 1: Management action plan

Recommendations BCSRIF Implementation
Streamline approval processes
  • Simplified the fund's appliction from 2 steps to 1, finding efficiences and streamlineing the notification of funding
Improve project monitoring and performance data collection
  • Developed a strategic monitoring plan to assess project-specific monitoring needs, maximizing funding efficiency
  • Shifted from MS Office to the centralized Canadian Fisheries Fund Information Storage Hub (CFFISH) database, enhancing recipient data colletion, analysis and project management
Develop long-term plan to continue activities
  • Implemented strategies to support the sustainability of activities beyond the sunset of the program and expansion from Phase 1 to Phase 2
  • With the launch of DFO's Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative (PSSI) in 2021, BCSRIF was integrated with PSSI to suport expanded pririties and continued porogram phunding for Phase 2 from 2021 to 2026.

Legacy and program evolution

The 2022-23 year marked an important milestone for BCSRIF, when the Government of Canada and Province of British Columbia’s joint announcement on BCSRIF Program Renewal under PSSI came into effect, to double BCSRIF funding and extend the program to 2026.

The program received significant interest in Phase 2, with 139 applications requesting $354 million, resulting in 73 approved projects—30% representing continuations of Phase 1 projects, demonstrating the program’s sustained relevance and impact. BCSRIF continues to develop long-term plans and is actively seeking funding to continue the program for a potential Phase 3.

 

Section 3: Project outcomes and key elements

BCSRIF projects span multiple program pillars and strategic funding priorities. Twenty BCSRIF-specific “Project Elements” capture the key project outcomes and themes, supporting comparative analysis and results reporting. From 2019-2024 the following key outcomes were achieved by BCSRIF recipients:

Nature Trust of B.C.'s project, Enhancing Estuary Resiliency An Innovative Approach to Sustaining Fish and Fish Habitat in a Changing Climate (041), gained international recognition and was endorsed by UNESCO as part of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.

Comox Valley Project Watershed involved 250 volunteers in a citizen science forage fish monitoring program (113) to gather data on understudied intertidal forage fish, crucial for their role in the conservation of Chinook salmon.

The Sport Fishing Institute's Fishing BC App Project (190) improved notification features, digital licensing, and integrated catch reporting, leading to enhanced communication between regulators and anglers, supporting compliance and conservation goals, and providing valuable data to fill recreational fishery information gaps.

Tsawwassen First Nation’s project Selective Fishing Using a Salmon Trap in the Lower Fraser River (224) supported reintroducing Indigenous selective fishing methods to reduce impacts on non-target species, including Steelhead and White Sturgeon.

For detailed project descriptions, see our website: bcsrif.ca

 

Section 4: Future pathway

The British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund has achieved significant milestones throughout the inception and implementation of its first phase, including obtaining approval for a concurrent second phase. Reflecting on the achievements made in the initial five years, BCSRIF demonstrates a model that is effective, relevant, and impactful, featuring an innovative structure that has been refined over time and remains responsive to recipient and stakeholder feedback.

BCSRIF has been entrusted with a critical responsibility: facilitating a B.C. salmon recovery economy. The response from the B.C. salmon community has been overwhelmingly positive and the economic impact of BCSRIF is substantial, funding a wide array of project-based initiatives throughout British Columbia and generating thousands of jobs in both rural communities and urban centres.

Recipients of BCSRIF funding are making a notable difference for Pacific salmon through remarkable collaboration and leveraging of partner support, taking action on projects for salmon habitat restoration, salmon stock monitoring, sustainable fishing research and other project initiatives. This partnered external delivery has complemented the efforts of DFO and B.C. programs, with the guidance and ongoing support of federal and provincial teams.

Through innovation and engagement, the British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund serves as a proven and pivotal mechanism for advancing the sustainability of B.C.’s fisheries and seafood sector for future generations.

 

Section 5: Recognition

The British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund acknowledges the contributions of the many teams and individuals who worked tirelessly on the projects mentioned within.

Phase 1 project recipients

Footnotes

Contact us

Email: DFO.BCSRIF-FRISCB.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

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