2026 to 2027 Call for Proposals: Habitat Stewardship Program for Aquatic Species at Risk

In this section

• Timelines
• Objective, expected results and national priorities
• Regional priorities
• For more information
• Regional priorities
• Regional coordinators

Since 2018, the Government of Canada has been working to transform its approach to species at risk conservation and recovery by shifting to ecosystem-based, multispecies initiatives. This approach includes providing funding towards the protection and recovery of aquatic and terrestrial species at risk.^{Footnote 1} Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is responsible for aquatic species at risk and supports recovery of these species through various programs, including the Habitat Stewardship Program (HSP).

The HSP, established in 2000, provides funding for projects submitted by Canadians that contribute directly to the recovery of species at risk. To ensure the HSP is able to achieve its mandate to "contribute to the recovery of endangered, threatened, and other species at risk by engaging Canadians from all walks of life in conservation actions to benefit wildlife”, DFO routinely reviews the program to best address emerging priorities related to aquatic species at risk across Canada.

HSP has 2 platforms for funding:

1. Terrestrial Species at Risk Projects – Delivered by Environment and Climate Change Canada
2. Aquatic Species at Risk Projects – Delivered by Fisheries and Oceans Canada

This Call for Proposals applies only to aquatic species at risk projects. For information on funding for terrestrial species at risk, please contact Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Timelines

• The program will be accepting Expressions of Interest (EOI) until November 21, 2025 (closing at 11:59 pm for your region).
• Submission of an EOI does not guarantee a project will be approved for funding. While no longer mandatory, submission of an EOI may be helpful for applicants who have not received HSP funding in the past.
• The EOI will give you the opportunity to discuss your project and receive feedback to verify that it is aligned with national and regional priorities, program expected results, and reporting requirements.
• The deadline for full proposal submissions is December 19, 2025 (closing at 11:59pm for your region).

Objective, expected results and national priorities

The objective of the HSP for Aquatic Species at Risk is to support and promote the conservation and recovery of Aquatic Species at Risk and their habitats by engaging Canadians in projects that will result in tangible and measurable conservation benefits.

Proposed projects must demonstrate how they align with the objectives and priorities of the HSP. Further, the proposal must describe through its own objectives, activities and anticipated outcomes, how it will achieve one or more of the expected results:

• aquatic species at risk important habitat^{Footnote 2} is improved and/or managed to meet their recovery needs
• threats to aquatic species at risk and/or their habitat are stopped, removed, and/or mitigated
• collaboration and partnerships support the conservation and recovery of aquatic species at risk

The national priorities for the 2026 to 2027 HSP are projects that focus on the implementation of:

• priority activities described in federal recovery strategies, action plans, or management plans
• multiple-species projects
• multi-partner projects
• activities that address threats described in federal species at risk recovery documents or the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) assessment reports
• community-led capacity development, including the documentation and management of Indigenous Knowledge (IK), and the advancement of protection and conservation activities for culturally significant species

Regional priorities

In addition to the national priorities, each region has identified specific priorities that support the national priorities. These include target areas, species and/or threats. The majority of HSP funds will go to projects that address at least 1 of these regional priorities.

For more information

• General information on the HSP for Aquatic Species at Risk is also available online as well as other reference and application documents such as the Program guide, Expression of interest form, Application form and Application instructions.
• Please contact your HSP Regional coordinator for additional information or assistance.

Thank you for your interest in the recovery of species at risk. We wish you the best in your application!