Deadline: 21-November-2025
The Fisheries and Oceans Canada is pleased to announce its Habitat Stewardship Program for Aquatic Species at Risk 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 align with the objectives and priorities of the Habitat Stewardship Program (HSP) by demonstrating how their goals and activities will improve or manage important habitats for aquatic species at risk, mitigate threats to these species or their habitats and promote collaboration for their recovery.
National priorities include implementing actions from federal recovery strategies, supporting multi-species and multi-partner initiatives, addressing threats identified in federal or COSEWIC reports, and fostering community-led efforts that incorporate Indigenous Knowledge and conservation of culturally significant species.
Eligible activities under the program fall under several categories, including habitat improvement, human impact mitigation, program planning and development, surveys, inventories and monitoring, project and program evaluation, and outreach.
Activities such as habitat restoration, the removal of invasive species, prevention of harm to aquatic species, development of conservation strategies, and community-based stewardship training are supported. Projects must clearly demonstrate measurable benefits for species at risk and be aligned with federal recovery strategies or COSEWIC reports.
The HSP for Aquatic Species at Risk has an approximate annual national budget of $4 million. Funding requests should typically range between $25,000 and $100,000 per fiscal year, and projects may span up to three years.
Eligible expenses include salaries, professional services, training, equipment, travel, materials, communication costs, insurance, and modest administrative overhead. Indigenous groups may also include ceremonial costs and honoraria for knowledge holders as part of eligible expenditures.
The Habitat Stewardship Program supports a range of eligible recipients including domestic not-for-profit organizations, Indigenous organizations and governments, research and academic institutions, Canadian individuals, for-profit organizations, local associations, and municipal or provincial governments. However, federal departments, agencies, and Crown corporations are not eligible to receive HSP funds.
Project proposals are evaluated by Regional Advisory Committees based on alignment with program objectives, national and regional priorities, and the applicant’s capacity to manage and complete the project successfully.
Evaluation criteria allocate alignment with program goals and organizational capacity. Proposals are expected to include realistic budgets, strong community partnerships, and measurable outcomes that contribute to the conservation of aquatic species at risk.
All Expressions of Interest must be submitted by the deadline of November 21, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. (regional time). Early submissions are encouraged.
For more information, visit Government of Canada.