Under the new phase of the Ocean Protection Plan, the Coastal Restoration Fund has been renewed and expanded as the Aquatic Ecosystems Restoration Fund (AERF). The AERF is building on previous work and will provide $75 million over the next 5 years to projects that address human impacts on Canadian aquatic species and habitats. Activities funded under the AERF will help address threats contributing towards biodiversity loss along Canada’s coastlines.
The first call for proposals under the renewed AERF closed on November 28, 2022. The program received 128 proposals for an overall AERF funding request of $262 million. Fisheries and Oceans Canada is currently evaluating proposals in advance of funding decisions to be made early in the spring of 2023.
To learn more, please visit Aquatic Ecosystems Restoration Fund.
