Endangered aquatic wildlife will benefit from a $4.79 million funding initiative announced by the Canadian government, aimed at supporting ten conservation projects across British Columbia. Part of the Canada Nature Fund for Aquatic Species at Risk (CNFASAR), this investment targets both freshwater and marine species through habitat restoration, invasive species control, and advanced research efforts.

Seven of the projects focus on the Fraser and Columbia River watersheds — home to 70% of the Pacific Region’s threatened freshwater species — while the remaining three address marine threats such as entanglement in fishing gear and noise pollution. Species slated for protection include the Rocky Mountain Ridged Mussel, Nooksack Dace, White Sturgeon, and British Columbia’s iconic Killer Whales. Indigenous communities play a key role in these efforts, contributing traditional knowledge to restoration work and reinforcing the cultural importance of species like salmon and orcas.

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Thomas Lipke on Unsplash