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2026 to 2027 Application Form: Habitat Stewardship Program for Aquatic Species at Risk

Form for applicants to submit a proposal to the Habitat Stewardship Program (HSP) for Aquatic Footnote 1 Species at Risk 2026 to 2027 funding cycle.

2026 to 2027 Application Form: Habitat Stewardship Program for Aquatic Species at Risk

2026 to 2027 Application Form: Habitat Stewardship Program for Aquatic Species at Risk (PDF, 405 KB)

2026 to 2027 Application Form: Habitat Stewardship Program for Aquatic Species at Risk

2026 to 2027 Application Form: Habitat Stewardship Program for Aquatic Species at Risk (DOCX, 175 KB)

Important:

The following form is your application to the HSP for Aquatic Species at Risk. Please refer to the HSP Application Instructions and the Program Guide as you complete this application. If you have questions, please contact the appropriate HSP Regional Coordinator.

The HSP for Aquatic Species at Risk has an approximate annual national budget of $4M. Single and multi-year projects will be considered for funding, with multi-year projects only being eligible for up to a 3 year maximum. The suggested funding range for requests to HSP should fall between $25,000 to $100,000 (per fiscal year) per project. It is strongly suggested that the funding request stay within this recommended range. Anything greater may need to be scaled back, which can be challenging. Please contact your HSP Regional Coordinator if you have questions about funding amounts.

On this page

Timelines and how to apply

An Expression of Interest (EOI) is no longer mandatory; however, an EOI is helpful for new proponents to support a discussion and early feedback on your project and to ensure alignment with program priorities and expectations. EOIs are due November 21, 2025 (closing at 11:59 pm for your region).

Applications must be submitted via email to the HSP Regional Coordinator by December 19, 2025 (closing at 11:59 pm for your region).

Please note:

Extensions to the application deadline will not be granted. Applicants are reminded that they should receive a notification of a successful submission within five working days of the submission of their application. Contact your HSP Regional Coordinator if you have submitted an application but have not received this notification.

Propose a new project

Unless otherwise indicated, all fields are mandatory. Failure to complete all mandatory fields may result in your application NOT being considered for funding.

1 Applicant information

1.1 Project management team and contact information

b) Duly authorized representative:

c) Project manager:

d) Address:

1.2 Organization type and business number

    Federal Business number and/or GST/HST number and/or band number % GST/HST reimbursable by Canada Revenue Agency % PST reimbursable by the province
NGO
     
Indigenous Group
     
Provincial/Territorial/Municipal/local government
     
Others (specify):
     

1.3 Program/project delivery experience

b) Team Members (max 25 lines):

Name Title Experience Previous HSP project experience?
       
       
       
       
       

1.4 Application to other DFO funding programs

2 Overview and project description

2.1.1 Project overview and outcomes (max 750 words):

2.1.2 Project description (max 500 words):

Is your project linked to a broader initiative or plan, such as a restoration plan, a regional watershed initiative, species at risk recovery, or a climate change adaptation initiative? Describe how the proposed project could contribute to other (federal, provincial, local) stewardship and conservation programs, projects, and activities in the target project area:

2.3 Collaboration among multiple stakeholders or partners

If you answered yes, please complete the table below:

Stakeholder/partner Description of role in project Confirmed or anticipated
     
     
     
     
     

3 Proposal background

3.1 Project location

Habitat description (ecosystem type) Latitude (decimal degree format) (e.g. 43.09057) Longitude (decimal degree format) (e.g. -80.16062) Specific Location (nearest town or city)
       
       
       
       
       

3.2 Importance of site

3.3 Target species

a) TargetFootnote 2 species: SARA-Listed, Priority Activities, Threats, and Regional Priorities

Select the SARA-listed species targeted by the project, indicate the specific measures described in the recovery strategy, management plan or action plan and relate your project Activities to these measures. One row per measure (1 species can have many rows). Please refer to the measures for species spreadsheet (XLSX, 636 KB) for a quick reference to species and recovery measures. Add rows as required.

Target species: SARA-Listed, Priority Activities, Threats, and Regional Priorities
Species (common name), Population, Designatable unit Recovery Strategy, Action Plan, or Management Plan Recommended Measures (copy/paste from column K in spreadsheet ‘Measures for species’) Planned: What activities will be taken to address the recovery measures? Explain how the activity directly addressed the indicated recovery measure SARA Status Threats: Do project activities address the impacts of, or respond to, threats to the target species and/or its or their habitat as described in federal SAR recovery documents? (Yes/No) Threats: If you answered yes, please identify the threat(s) to the target species and/or their habitats that will be addressed by the project and include actual content from the federal SAR recovery documents Explain how the activity directly addresses threats Regional Priorities
Choose an item. e.g., RS-1 e.g., Activity 1, Activity 2 - Choose an item. Choose an item. e.g., Contaminant monitoring by conducting sediment sampling and monitoring - Please refer to the Regional Priorities Table and manually type in the exact term(s) from the table that apply to the target species
Choose an item. - - - Choose an item. Choose an item. - - Please refer to the Regional Priorities Table and manually type in the exact term(s) from the table that apply to the target species
Choose an item. - - - Choose an item. Choose an item. - - Please refer to the Regional Priorities Table and manually type in the exact term(s) from the table that apply to the target species
Choose an item. - - - Choose an item. Choose an item. - - Please refer to the Regional Priorities Table and manually type in the exact term(s) from the table that apply to the target species

b) Target Species: COSEWIC-Assessed, Priority Activities, Threats, and Regional Priorities

Select the COSEWIC-assessed species targeted by the project, and indicate which project Activities address these species. Add rows as required.

Target Species: COSEWIC-Assessed, Priority Activities, Threats, and Regional Priorities
Species (common name), Population, Designatable unit Planned: What Activities will be taken to benefit the conservation of each species? Explain how the activity directly benefits the target species COSEWIC Status Threats: Do project activities address the impacts of, or respond to, threats to the target species and/or its or their habitat as described in COSEWIC Assessment documents? (Yes/No) Threats: If you answered yes, please identify the threat(s) to the target species and/or their habitats that will be addressed by the project and include actual content from the COSEWIC Assessment documents Explain how the activity directly addresses threats Regional Priorities
Choose an item. e.g., Activity 1, Activity 2 - Choose an item. Choose an item. Improperly designed culverts create barriers to fish passage through hanging outfalls, increased water velocities, or insufficient water velocity and depths within. - Please refer to the Regional Priorities Table and manually type in the exact term(s) from the table that apply to the target species
Choose an item.   - Choose an item. Choose an item. - - Please refer to the Regional Priorities Table and manually type in the exact term(s) from the table that apply to the target species
Choose an item.   - Choose an item. Choose an item. - - Please refer to the Regional Priorities Table and manually type in the exact term(s) from the table that apply to the target species
Choose an item.   - Choose an item. Choose an item. - - Please refer to the Regional Priorities Table and manually type in the exact term(s) from the table that apply to the target species

4 Work Plan

4.1 Project Work Plan

4.1.1 Annual Work Plan for 2026-27
Annual Work Plan for 2026-27
  1. Activity 1: [Title of Activity]
  2. Estimated cost HSP: $[numerical amount]
  3. Start and end dates: [month-year]
  4. General description of the activity:
  5. Tasks:
  6. Deliverables:
  1. Activity 2: [Title of Activity]
  2. Estimated cost HSP: $[numerical amount]
  3. Start and end dates: [month-year]
  4. General description of the activity:
  5. Tasks:
  6. Deliverables:
[Add rows as needed]
4.1.2 [Two-year projects] Annual Work Plan for 2027-28
Annual Work Plan for 2027-28
  1. Activity 1: [Title of Activity]
  2. Estimated cost HSP: $[numerical amount]
  3. Start and end dates: [month-year]
  4. General description of the activity:
  5. Tasks:
  6. Deliverables:
  1. Activity 2: [Title of Activity]
  2. Estimated cost HSP: $[numerical amount]
  3. Start and end dates: [month-year]
  4. General description of the activity:
  5. Tasks:
  6. Deliverables:
[Add rows as needed]
4.1.3 [Three-year projects] Annual Work Plan for 2028-2029
Annual Work Plan for 2028-2029
  1. Activity 1: [Title of Activity]
  2. Estimated cost HSP: $[numerical amount]
  3. Start and end dates: [month-year]
  4. General description of the activity:
  5. Tasks:
  6. Deliverables:
  1. Activity 2: [Title of Activity]
  2. Estimated cost HSP: $[numerical amount]
  3. Start and end dates: [month-year]
  4. General description of the activity:
  5. Tasks:
  6. Deliverables:
[Add rows as needed]

4.2 Surveys, inventories and monitoring

4.3 Project evaluation

4.4 Project legacy

4.5 Permitting

If you answered yes, please complete the table below.

Project activity # Permit or authorization type Expected date of issue Issuing authority
       
       
       
       

5 Project budget and expenditures

5.1 HSP Projected Expenditures for 2026-27

Expense category Expense description $ Requested to HSP
   
   
   
  Total  

5.2 [Two-year projects] HSP Projected Expenditures for 2027-28

Expense category Expense description $ Requested to HSP
   
   
   
  Total  

5.3 [Three-year projects] HSP Projected Expenditures for 2028-2029

Expense category Expense description $ Requested to HSP
   
   
   
  Total  

6 Project support

Does this project involve collaboration among multiple stakeholders or partners (including Indigenous groups)?

If you answered yes, please complete the table(s) below:

6.1 Sources of Support for 2026-27

Organization name, description of activities to be funded and Valuation of Support $ Value of Federal cash and in-kind support $ Value of other governmental cash and in-kind support $ Value other cash and in-kind support Total $ support Confirmed Y/N
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (HSP)          
           
           
           
Total          

6.2 [Two-year projects] Sources of Support for 2027-28

Organization name, description of activities to be funded and valuation of Support $ Value of Federal cash and in-kind support $ Value of other governmental cash and in-kind support $ Value other cash and in-kind support Total $ support Confirmed Y/N
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (HSP)          
           
           
           
Total          

6.3 [Three-year projects] Sources of Support for 2028-2029

Organization name, description of activities to be funded and valuation of Support $ Value of Federal cash and in-kind support $ Value of other governmental cash and in-kind support $ Value other cash and in-kind support Total $ support Confirmed Y/N
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (HSP)          
           
           
           
Total          

7 Measuring program performance

7.1 Enter planned amounts in the appropriate columns

7.1 Enter planned amounts in the appropriate columns
Performance Measure Planned
2026-2027		 Planned
2027-2028		 Planned
2028-2029
Area of aquatic habitat restored (total area for the funded project in sq metres)* [xxxx] [xxxx] [xxxx]
Number of aquatic species at risk (species or populations) targeted by overall project activities [xxxx] [xxxx] [xxxx]
Number of aquatic species at risk (species or populations) that benefit from the threat reduction/mitigation activities [xxxx] [xxxx] [xxxx]
Number of aquatic species at risk (species or populations) anticipated to have trends consistent with population and distribution objectives in recovery strategies and action plans [xxxx] [xxxx] [xxxx]
Number of actions implemented from recovery documents for aquatic species at risk (species or populations), including from area or threat-based plans. Provide more details in Section 7 Table 7.4 [xxxx] [xxxx] [xxxx]
Number of non-indigenous partners engaged and involved in the project (the Recipient and DFO must not be counted as partners) [xxxx] [xxxx] [xxxx]
Number of indigenous groups involved as partners (summarize from section 6, table 6.2) [xxxx] [xxxx] [xxxx]
Number of reports (e.g. studies, surveys, inventories, and research reports) completed [xxxx] [xxxx] [xxxx]
Number of outreach events conducted (presentations, workshops etc.) [xxxx] [xxxx] [xxxx]
Number of actions likely to continue to occur beyond the Habitat Stewardship Program [xxxx] [xxxx] [xxxx]
Number of non-Indigenous people employed [xxxx] [xxxx] [xxxx]
Number of Indigenous people employed [xxxx] [xxxx] [xxxx]
Number of non-Indigenous people trained [xxxx] [xxxx] [xxxx]
Number of Indigenous people trained [xxxx] [xxxx] [xxxx]
* If possible, please measure area with this standard mapping projection: Canada Albers Equal Area Conic (WKID: 102001, ESRI)

Appendix 1: Regional coordinators

Arctic

David Slater
Telephone: 867-669-4900
Email: DFO.ARCHSP-PIHARC.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Gulf

Lisa Robichaud
Telephone: 506-377-3178
Email: DFO.HspGlf-PihGlf.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Maritimes

Lisa Paon
Telephone: 902-483-5495
Email: DFO.HspMar-PihMar.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Newfoundland and Labrador

Lynette Mulley
Email: DFO.HspNfl-PihTnl.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Ontario and Prairie

Kristie Pearce
Telephone: 431-334-7210
Email: DFO.HspOpr-PihRop.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Pacific

Athen Yuen
Telephone: 778-955-8334
Email: DFO.HspPyr-PihRpy.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Quebec

Élyse Leduc
Telephone: 438-340-9834
Email: DFO.HspQc-PihQc.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Appendix 2: Regional priorities

Appendix 1: Regional priorities
Region Species Areas Threats
Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Wolffish Species (Northern, Spotted, Atlantic)
  • Leatherback and Loggerhead Sea Turtle
  • Whale Species (Blue Whale, Fin Whale, North Atlantic Right Whale, Harbour Porpoise)
  • Freshwater / diadromous (Atlantic salmon - South Newfoundland population, American eel, Banded Killifish)
  • Sharks and Skates (White Shark, Porbeagle, Shortfin Mako, Basking Shark, Smooth Skate, Thorny Skate)
 N/A
  • Fisheries interactions (for example, incidental catch/bycatch, entanglements, illegal harvest)
  • Vessel and other vehicle interactions (for example, ship strikes, acoustic disturbances)
  • Pollution and water quality
  • Habitat alteration and degradation (for example, migration barriers, climate change impacts)
  • Aquatic invasive and introduced species
Maritimes
  • Atlantic Salmon (Inner Bay of Fundy population)
  • Atlantic Whitefish
  • Leatherback and Loggerhead Sea Turtle
  • Whale Species (North Atlantic Right Whale, Blue Whale, Fin Whale)
  • Freshwater and marine bivalves (Yellow Lampmussel, Brook Floater, Atlantic Mud-piddock)
 N/A
  • Habitat alteration and degradation (for example, climate change impacts, migration barriers)
  • Aquatic invasive and introduced species
  • Fisheries interactions (for example, incidental catch/bycatch, entanglements)
  • Vessel and other vehicle interactions (for example, ship strikes)
  • Acoustic disturbances
Gulf
  • Brook Floater
  • Atlantic Salmon
  • North Atlantic Right Whale
  • Blue Whale, Fin Whale
  • Winter Skate
 N/A
  • Vessel and other vehicle interactions (for example, ship strikes, acoustic disturbances)
  • Fisheries interactions (for example, incidental catch/bycatch, entanglements, illegal harvest)
  • Habitat alteration and degradation (for example, temperature, sediment/nutrient, contaminants)
  • Aquatic invasive and introduced species
Quebec
  • Whale species: Beluga Whale, Blue Whale, North Atlantic Right Whale, Fin Whale
  • Freshwater fishes: Copper Redhorse, Eastern Sand Darter, Cutlip Minnow, Channel Darter, Bridle Shiner
  • White Shark
  • Vessel and other vehicle interactions (for example, ship strikes, acoustic disturbances)
  • Fisheries interactions (for example, incidental catch/bycatch, entanglements, prey availability)
  • Habitat alteration and degradation (for example, destruction of seagrass beds, bank artificialization, wave action, soil compaction or erosion, alteration of shorelines and riparian buffers, water contamination)
  • Aquatic invasive and introduced species

Ontario and Prairie

(Ontario)
  • Redside Dace
  • Pugnose Shiner
  • Pugnose Minnow
  • Black Redhorse
  • SARA-listed Freshwater Mussels
  • Lake St. Clair and contributing watersheds
  • Lake Erie and contributing watersheds
  • Lake Ontario and contributing watersheds
  • Lake Huron and contributing watersheds
  • Lakes and contributing watersheds of Upper (western) St. Lawrence River
  • Pollution and water quality
  • Habitat alteration and degradation
  • Altered flows, water levels, or coastal process
  • Restrictions/barriers to fish passage

Ontario and Prairie

(Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta)
  • Bigmouth Buffalo
  • Lake Sturgeon
  • Southern Prairie Species (Western Silvery Minnow, Rocky Mountain Sculpin, Plains Sucker, Plains Minnow)
  • AB Native Trout (Athabasca Rainbow, Westslope Cutthroat, Bull (Western Arctic, SK-Nelson))
  • Native Lampreys (Northern Brook and Silver)
  • Peace/Slave/Athabasca River Basin
  • North and South Saskatchewan River basin
  • Southern Prairie Region (Milk River, St. Mary River, Qu’Appelle River)
  • Winnipeg/Red/Assiniboine River Basin
  • East Slopes Rocky Mountains
  • Habitat alteration and degradation (for example, feeding, spawning, nursery, overwintering, migration)
  • Aquatic invasive and introduced species
  • Altered flows, water levels, or coastal process
  • Disease and pathogens
  • Restrictions/barriers to fish passage

Arctic

(Northwest Territories and Nunavut)
  • Dolly Varden (Western Arctic)
  • Beluga (Cumberland Sound)
  • Bull Trout (Western Arctic)
  • Arctic Marine Fish
  • Arctic Marine Mammals
  • Foxe Basin/ Hudson Bay/Hudson Strait
  • Mackenzie River tributaries/Peel River System
  • Beaufort Sea/Amundsen Gulf
  • Queen Maud Gulf to Lancaster Sound
  • Baffin Bay/Davis Strait
  • Vessel and other vehicle interactions (for example, ship strikes, acoustic disturbances)
  • Fisheries interactions (for example, incidental catch/bycatch, entanglements, illegal harvest, prey availability)
  • Aquatic invasive and introduced species
  • Habitat alteration and degradation (for example, climate change impacts, new predators)
Pacific
  • Cetaceans assessed by COSEWIC and/or listed under SARA as threatened or endangered
  • Northern Abalone
  • Freshwater species assessed as at risk by COSEWIC
 All aquatic habitat (marine and freshwater) within DFO Pacific Region
  • Fisheries interactions (for example, incidental catch/bycatch, entanglements, illegal harvest, prey availability)
  • Vessel and other vehicle interactions (for example, ship strikes, acoustic disturbances)
  • Habitat alteration and degradation (for example, feeding, spawning, rearing, overwintering, migration)
  • Pollution and water quality
  • Aquatic invasive and introduced species
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