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2025 to 2026 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 1Species at Risk 2025 to 2026 funding cycle

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. Funding is variable and dependent on project activities. Suggested minimum funding request to HSP is $25,000 (this amount may be spread over one or up to three years of a project). The Program does not have a maximum funding limit. However, typical HSP contributions can range from $25,000 to $100,000. Please contact your HSP Regional Coordinator if you have questions about funding amounts.

On this page

Timelines and how to apply

Prior to submitting a complete application to the HSP, applicants are strongly encouraged to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) via email to the appropriate HSP Regional Coordinator. Although the EOI is not mandatory it will give you the opportunity to discuss and receive feedback on your project and to verify that it is aligned with national and regional priorities and program expected results. EOIs are due November 8, 2024 (closing at 11:59 pm for your region).

Applications must be submitted via email to the HSP Regional Coordinator by December 13, 2024 (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 National and Regional Priorities

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 provided spreadsheet (‘Measures for species’) for a quick reference to species and recovery measures. Add rows as required.

Target species: SARA-Listed, Priority Activities, Threats, and Regional Priorities
National Priorities Regional Priority
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? 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 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. 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 -
Choose an item. - - Choose an item. Choose an item. - -
Choose an item. - - Choose an item. Choose an item. - -
Choose an item. - - Choose an item. Choose an item. - -

b) Target species: COSEWIC-assessed, Priority Activities, Threats, 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, Regional Priorities
National priorities Regional Priority
Species (common name), Population, Designatable unit Planned: What activities will be taken to address the recovery measures? 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 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. 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. -
Choose an item.   Choose an item. Choose an item. - -
Choose an item.   Choose an item. Choose an item. - -
Choose an item.   Choose an item. Choose an item. - -

3.4 Recovery activity experts

4 Work plan

4.1 Project work plan

4.1.1 Annual work plan for 2025 to 2026
Annual work plan for 2025 to 2026
  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]
41.2 [Two-year projects] Annual work plan for 2026 to 2027
Annual work plan for 2026 to 2027
  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 2027 to 2028
Annual work plan for 2027 to 2028
  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 2025 to 2026

Expense category Expense description $ Requested to HSP
   
   
   
  Total  

5.2 [Two-year projects] HSP projected expenditures for 2026 to 2027

Expense category Expense description $ Requested to HSP
   
   
   
  Total  

5.3 [Three-year projects] HSP projected expenditures for 2027 to 2028

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 2025 to 2026

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 2026 to 2027

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 2027 to 2028

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 first column for 2025 to 2026.

7.1 Enter planned amounts in the first column for 2025 to 2026.
Performance Measure Planned Actual
Area of aquatic habitat restored (sq. metres/km) [xxxx]  
Number of aquatic species at risk (species or populations) targeted by overall project activities [xxxx]  
Number of aquatic species at risk (species or populations) subject to mitigated impacts from threats [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]  
Number of actions implemented from recovery documents for aquatic species at risk (species or populations), including from area or threat-based plans  [xxxx]  
Number of reports (e.g. studies, surveys, inventories, and research reports) completed [xxxx]  
Number of non-indigenous partners engaged and involved in the project (the Recipient and DFO must not be counted as partners) [xxxx]  
Number of indigenous groups involved as partners [xxxx]  
Number of outreach events conducted (presentations, workshops etc.) [xxxx]  
Number of actions likely to continue to occur beyond the Habitat Stewardship Program [xxxx]  
Number of jobs created [xxxx]  
Number of people trained [xxxx]  

7.2 [Two-year projects] Enter planned amounts in the first column for 2026 to 2027.

7.2 [Two-year projects] Enter planned amounts in the first column for 2026 to 2027.
Performance Measure Planned Actual
Area of aquatic habitat restored (sq. metres/km) [xxxx]  
Number of aquatic species at risk (species or populations) targeted by overall project activities [xxxx]  
Number of aquatic species at risk (species or populations) subject to mitigated impacts from threats [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]  
Number of actions implemented from recovery documents for aquatic species at risk (species or populations), including from area or threat-based plans  [xxxx]  
Number of reports (e.g. studies, surveys, inventories, and research reports) completed [xxxx]  
Number of non-indigenous partners engaged and involved in the project (the Recipient and DFO must not be counted as partners) [xxxx]  
Number of indigenous groups involved as partners [xxxx]  
Number of outreach events conducted (presentations, workshops etc.) [xxxx]  
Number of actions likely to continue to occur beyond the Habitat Stewardship Program [xxxx]  
Number of jobs created [xxxx]  
Number of people trained [xxxx]  

7.3 [Three-year projects] Enter planned amounts in the first column for 2027 to 2028.

7.3 [Three-year projects] Enter planned amounts in the first column for 2027 to 2028.
Performance Measure Planned Actual
Area of aquatic habitat restored (sq. metres/km) [xxxx]  
Number of aquatic species at risk (species or populations) targeted by overall project activities [xxxx]  
Number of aquatic species at risk (species or populations) subject to mitigated impacts from threats [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]  
Number of actions implemented from recovery documents for aquatic species at risk (species or populations), including from area or threat-based plans  [xxxx]  
Number of reports (e.g. studies, surveys, inventories, and research reports) completed [xxxx]  
Number of non-indigenous partners engaged and involved in the project (the Recipient and DFO must not be counted as partners) [xxxx]  
Number of indigenous groups involved as partners [xxxx]  
Number of outreach events conducted (presentations, workshops etc.) [xxxx]  
Number of actions likely to continue to occur beyond the Habitat Stewardship Program [xxxx]  
Number of jobs created [xxxx]  
Number of people trained [xxxx]  

Appendix 1: Regional coordinators

Arctic

Kristie Pearce
Telephone: 431-334-7210
Email: DFO.HspOpr-PihRop.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

Andy Porter
Telephone: 709-325-4356
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
  • Large Whale Species (Blue Whale, Fin Whale, North Atlantic Right Whale)
  • Atlantic Salmon (South Newfoundland population)
  • Banded Killifish
 N/A
  • Fisheries interactions (i.e. bycatch, entanglements)
  • Vessel interactions (i.e. ship strikes, acoustic disturbances)
  • Pollution and water quality
  • Habitat alteration, including migration barriers
  • Aquatic invasive species affecting aquatic species at risk and their habitat
Maritimes
  • Atlantic Salmon (Inner Bay of Fundy population)
  • Atlantic Whitefish
  • Leatherback and Loggerhead Sea Turtle
  • Whale Species (North Atlantic Right Whale, Blue Whale)
  • Freshwater mussels (Yellow Lampmussel, Brook Floater)
 N/A
  • Habitat alteration and degradation, including climate change impacts
  • Invasive and introduced species
  • Fishery interactions (includes entanglement, bycatch and incidental catch)
  • Vessels and vehicles interactions
  • Acoustic disturbance
Gulf
  • Freshwater / diadromous (Atlantic salmon, Brook Floater)
  • Wolffish species
  • Leatherback Sea Turtle
  • Whale species (North Atlantic Right Whale, Blue Whale, Fin Whale)
  • Sharks and Skates (White Shark, Winter Skate)
 N/A
  • Physical and acoustic Disturbances (includes vessel interactions and noise)
  • Fishery Interactions: Bycatch and Entanglement
  • Habitat Alteration and Degradation (includes temperature, sediment/nutrient, contaminants)
  • Invasive and Introduced Species
  • Loss of Indigenous Knowledge specifically related to aquatic species presence and utilization of important habitats (i.e., habitats used for feeding, spawning, nursery, overwintering, or as a migratory corridor)
Quebec
  • St. Lawrence whales at risk (Beluga whale, Blue whale, North Atlantic right whale, Fin whale and Harbour porpoise)
  • All freshwater fishes of interest to the Quebec Recovery Team “l'équipe de rétablissement des cyprins et petits percidés du Québec” (Sand Darter, Northern Sunfish, Cutlip Minnow, Channel Darter, Bridle Shiner, Grass Pickerel, Northern Brook Lamprey and Silver Lamprey)
  • Copper Redhorse
  • Sharks and Skates (Atlantic White Shark, Atlantic Blue Shark, Atlantic Spiny Dogfish, Channel Darter, Atlantic Basking Shark, Thorny Skate, and Smooth Skate, Laurentian-Scotian population)
  • St. Lawrence diadromous species (Atlantic salmon and American eel)
  • Anthropogenic disturbance associated with commercial shipping, whale watching and touring, or recreational boating (e.g., approach, noise, collision, wake, spill)
  • Bycatch, entanglement in fishing gear, recreational and commercial fishing pressures on aquatic species at risk and the availability of their prey
  • Habitat destruction and degradation (e.g., destruction of seagrass beds, bank artificialization, wave action, soil compaction or erosion, alteration of shorelines and riparian buffers, water contamination)
  • Aquatic invasive species affecting aquatic species at risk and their habitat

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
  • Sediment/nutrient, contaminant loading
  • Habitat destruction/ alteration
  • Altered flows, water levels, or coastal process
  • 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)
  • Alberta Native Trout (Athabasca Rainbow, Westslope Cutthroat, Bull)
  • 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 loss, destruction, degradation and disruption
  • Species-specific and targeted impacts from introduced and non-introduced species
  • Disease and pathogens
  • Restrictions/barriers to movement
  • Loss of Indigenous Knowledge specifically related to aquatic species presence and utilization of important habitats (i.e., habitats used for feeding, spawning, nursery, overwintering, or as a migratory corridor)

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
  • Loss of Indigenous Knowledge specifically related to the utilization of important habitats (i.e., habitats used for feeding, spawning, nursery, overwintering, or as a migratory corridor)
  • Anthropogenic disturbance associated with shipping, small crafts, industry and other activities
  • Struck and loss of marine mammals
  • Impacts of disease, introduced and non-introduced species
  • Impacts of climate change, including habitat impacts
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 (including incidental/bycatch, entanglements, illegal harvest, prey availability)
  • Physical and acoustic disturbance (vessel based), vessel strikes
  • Habitat degradation and fragmentation (aquatic and riparian)
  • Water quality, including contaminants
  • Aquatic invasive species
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