ARTIFICIAL REEF PLAN FOR NEW BRUNSWICK

Artificial reef plan for New Brunswick. Canada’s Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, along with the local Member of Parliament for Miramichi — Grand Lake, Pat Finnigan and Chief George Ginnish, have announced that Anqotum Resource Management in collaboration with Homarus Inc will receive $1.7 million over four years to restore coastal habitats along the eastern shore of New Brunswick thanks to funding under the Ocean Protection Plan.

The eastern shore of New Brunswick is an ecologically significant region. It serves as feeding grounds for herring and mackerel while providing refuge for feeding and spawning of many species such as lobster.

The investment will fund the purchase, installation and monitoring of up to 40,000 artificial reefs units in Miramichi Bay. An artificial reef is a specially-designed rectangular concrete block with  openings at the bottom that provide safe shelter for important species that are found on the ocean floor such as rock crab, mussels and algae. The reefs will have an important impact on the ecosystem because they provide shelter and diversity habitat for these types of species.

At the height of the work for this project, this investment will create sixteen jobs in the community. Indigenous participants will receive training on the installation of artificial reefs and on monitoring their effectiveness.

In May 2017, the Government of Canada announced the $75 million Coastal Restoration Fund, under the Oceans Protection Plan, to help rehabilitate some of the most vulnerable coastlines and protect marine life and ecosystems. The Coastal Restoration Fund supports projects that contribute to healthier habitats for fish on all of Canada’s coasts with preference given to projects that are multiyear and involve a broad number of partners, including Indigenous groups.

Over the past two years, the Government of Canada has invested in three Coastal Restoration Fund projects in New Brunswick, that are making the marine safety system stronger, and protecting the coastal environments and marine species more than ever before.

. These projects are the following :

• Ducks Unlimited Canada has received $1,010,000 dollars over five years for a project to help restore coastal habitats in New Brunswick
• Kopit Lodge (Elsipogtog First Nation) has received $1,306,736 over five years for a project to help restore coastal habitats in South-East New Brunswick
• Passamaquoddy Recognition Group (Peskotomuhkati First Nation) has received $1,656,000 over five years for a project to help restore coastal habitats in South-West New Brunswick.

Jonathan Wilkinson said: “Our government is committed to protecting our coasts – that’s why we’re implementing our Oceans Protection Plan, which allows us to work together to make our oceans and coasts safer, cleaner and healthier. The $75 million Coastal Restoration Fund provides an opportunity to address threats to our ocean and coastal areas. I am pleased that our collaboration with Anqotum Resource Management will ensure healthy, thriving coastal habitats on New Brunswick’s Eastern Shore for future generations.”