Community Salmon Program

Community Salmon
Program

Partnering to advance salmon recovery

PSF’s Community Salmon Program funds community-led and First Nations-led salmon recovery, emerging salmon leaders, and emergency restoration work.

Learn more Apply for funding

Did you know the Salmon Conservation Stamp funds 150+ projects every year through psf?

Every stamp dollar goes to projects benefitting salmon! PSF stewards these funds on behalf of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and with generous donor support, we leverage the stamp revenue so more can get done for salmon. Watch how Morrison Creek Streamkeepers leveraged program funds to replace a culvert blocking fish passage in the Comox Valley.

Program feature: What impact do community grants have on salmon?

Near Comox, the Courtenay and District Fish and Game Protective Association built a state-of-the-art hatchery with support from PSF’s Community Salmon Program.

The hatchery now draws cold water from the depths of Comox Lake to rear juvenile salmon through the hottest summer months, when temperatures can become lethal for wild fish. In response to extreme droughts in recent years, Courtenay Fish and Game is also constructing an emergency refuge pond by the hatchery.

The Community Salmon Program provides grants to streamkeepers, First Nations, schools, and conservation organizations — People for Salmon across the province — to conserve and restore Pacific salmon and their habitats.

Through various funding opportunities, the program aims to:

Empower community groups by investing in salmon and habitat restoration projects
Increase awareness and public engagement with Pacific salmon issues
Create partnerships with diverse groups in support of urgent salmon recovery

In the 35 years since its inception, the program has distributed $31M+ in grants to 3,500+ projects across B.C. and the Yukon, supported each year by an average of 60,000 volunteer hours. Successful initiatives have included salmon habitat restoration, monitoring and research, streamkeeper training, and educational programs that raise awareness for salmon.

35 Years of Community Investments

3,740+ Projects

60,000+ Volunteer Hours/Year

$33.7M+ Granted

$234.3M+ Valued Impact

Grant and Bursary Opportunities

Community Salmon Program Grants
The Community Salmon Program provides up to $2M in grants annually to support community-led salmon conservation and restoration projects.

See our grants page
Stewardship Community Bursary
The Stewardship Community Bursary program awards multiple bursaries, each worth $2,500, to support students in B.C. and the Yukon with a passion for salmon conservation and restoration.

See our bursary page
Emergency Funding
The Community Salmon Program accepts emergency funding requests to support urgent restoration work and equipment repairs. Please contact Jim Shinkewski at jshinkewski@psf.ca.

PSF offers funding to help salmon in the face of climate emergencies and natural hazards, such as drought or landslides. Learn more here and contact emergencyresponse@psf.ca.

About our funding

The Salmon Conservation Stamp, a decal anglers must purchase with a saltwater fishing license to catch and keep salmon, is the primary funding source for the program. Every year, PSF stewards all proceeds from the stamp on behalf of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to support community-led salmon conservation. The Community Salmon Program also benefits from funding provided by the Province of B.C. and generous donors.

Support the Community Salmon Program

The Community Salmon Program benefits from the support of generous foundations, corporate organizations, and individual donors.

“This year, the Community Salmon Program received the highest amount of funding requests in the program’s history. Unfortunately, there was a gap in funding availability of roughly half a million dollars. Demand for local stewardship is at an all-time high, and salmon need us now more than ever,” says Michael Meneer, President and CEO, Pacific Salmon Foundation. “I strongly encourage you to support the Community Salmon Program to ensure that hundreds of streamkeepers, First Nations groups, and community volunteers have the funds they need to advance their vital salmon restoration and habitat recovery efforts.”

If you’d like to support community-led salmon restoration efforts, donate online today or contact Jim Shinkewski, Director, Community Salmon Program, at jshinkewski@psf.ca.

Explore Grant-Funded Projects

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