Salmo Salar the Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation 2018 Annual Report TABLE of CONTENTS
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Salmo salar The Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation 2018 ANNUAL REPORT TABLE OF CONTENTS Annual Report 2019 Message from the Chairman 1 Message from the Executive Director 2 Introduction to 2019 Annual Report 3 Mission Statement & Goals 4 Statement of Objectives for 2019 5 Project Profiles Newfoundland & Labrador 8 Québec 9 New Brunswick 10 Nova Scotia 11 Prince Edward Island 12 Science 13 Grants & Status 14 Summary of Project Audits 26 Reports & Statements Auditors’ Report 27 2019 Financial Statements 28 ASCF Volunteers & Personnel Officers, Directors & Board Committees 30 Advisory Committees 31 Volunteer Profiles 2019 32 ASCF Structural Model 36 Conservation Partners 36 The Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation 2019 ANNUAL REPORT MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN Proud to be a partnership-based conservation organization. In this annual report we are reviewing the year 2019, our thirteenth year in operation. As in recent past years, 2019 was another ex- ceptional year of facilitating the wild Atlantic salmon conservation efforts of multiple community groups, Indigenous organizations, “One of the first researchers and others to achieve new conservation gains in across Atlantic Canada and Quebec. conditions of happiness is that The Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation has an excellent record in helping improve the conservation status of wild Atlantic the link between salmon in Canada. This is simply explained by examining the busi- man and nature ness model followed by the Foundation. First, we listen carefully to our expert advisory committees for their advice on conservation shall not be priorities and the project proposals the Foundation should fund. broken.” Secondly, we are fully responsive to the advice we receive from our recipient groups how we can improve our processes. Thirdly, we - Leo Tolstoy continually seek improvements to make our Foundation as re- sponsive and facilitative as possible, while observing due diligence in all of our activities. Honourable Rémi Bujold, P.C., C.M. It does not seem that long ago, looking back to 2005, when six Chairman of the Board of Directors committed salmon conservationists founded the Atlantic Salm- on Conservation Foundation. In the short intervening period we quality of the projects that we help support. These volunteers freely are rewarded to consider how far this Foundation has come as dedicate their time and expertise to this Foundation to ensure we a strong and permanent force in helping improve wild Atlantic support the most effective conservation action to maintain the salmon conservation. At the same time, we have a much clearer Foundation as an effective force in salmon conservation. recognition of how much conservation action is necessary if we are to save this iconic animal species. I am also deeply appreciative of the exceptional work of our tal- ented staff. Our staff, Darla, Allyson and Stephen provide the daily In 2019 we were proud to have been able to increase our annual leadership and solid management to the Foundation that allows conservation grant to $1.2 million. This was significant because our policy and program to grow and innovate. Our staff are the we were able to exceed the original goal of providing a sustained main factor in building and maintaining the strong relationships $1 million toward the grant pool when this Foundation was first we enjoy with so many partners and stakeholders. conceived. Significantly, the annual pool of funding we make available to conservation project funding is firmly rooted in our I am proud of the great team represented by our volunteers, our long-term financial plan. Even though financial markets of 2019 staff and our recipient organizations. They are genuine leaders of exhibited relatively flat growth, our financial plan ensured resil- the conservation of wild Atlantic salmon. ience in ensuring role of providing conservation grants, while ob- serving the fiscal prudence expected by our Funding Agreement with the Government. We are proud to be a partnership-based conservation organiza- tion. Partnership is central to our business approach, whereby the contribution of diverse individuals is brought together and fo- cussed to help achieve greater conservation results. Our greatest pool of partners are the sixty committed volunteer experts serving on our Board of Directors and our six advisory committees. The Hon. Rémi Bujold, P.C., C.M. Board guides our policy, while the advisory committees guide the Chairman of the Board of Directors The Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation 2019 ANNUAL REPORT 1 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT Supporting volunteers who pursue Atlantic salmon conservation at the local level. As I look back on 2019, it’s hard to believe how far the Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation has come in helping fund hun- dreds of wild Atlantic salmon conservation projects unfold across Atlantic Canada and Quebec. We are proud to have experienced thirteen years of impressive growth in both the demand for, and ASCF project quality of, salmon conservation projects in each of the five provinc- es. Importantly, we continue to witness major depth of effort exhib- funding helps ited by community groups, Indigenous organizations and university researchers all of which contributes to the advancement of wild At- sustain hundreds lantic salmon conservation, river by river, community by community. of jobs, primarily In our thirteen years experience we have helped nurture improved focus and quality of funding proposals. The improved focus of in rural areas of projects conforms to our priority of funding initiatives derived Atlantic Canada from river and watershed management plans, with the goal of get- ting best bang for the limited resources we have available to help and Québec. salmon conservation. An improved quality of project proposals may also be directly attributed to better planning and priority set- ting by project proponents. Stephen Chase We have also noted significant growth in the demand (read: Executive Director need) for funding over our thirteen years. We attribute this growth By selecting the best funding proposals, our leveraging (cash and in- to two factors. First, there has been a gradual increase in fund- kind) reached nearly $42.6 million, providing an impressive four to ing proposals over the years as the Foundation becomes better one ratio. known. Secondly, as community and Indigenous groups become It is extremely important to stress that ASCF project funding helps more focussed on plans and priorities the scale of project pro- sustain hundreds of jobs, primarily in rural areas of Atlantic Cana- posals, and request for funding, has increased. It’s a bittersweet da and Quebec. Many of these jobs are seasonal workers, as well situation, in which there is a clear need project funding, while the as students who are gaining valuable work experience on which to Foundation is stretched in its ability to deliver adequate funds. base their careers. These jobs represent an important and significant We are proud of the reputation we have developed as a reliable grant- contribution to rural economies often in areas where other economic ing entity and true partner to conservation groups. Every day we ac- opportunities are limited. tively practice our mantra of “facilitating, not frustrating” the efforts It is also important to note that ASCF funded projects often help im- of our conservation group partners. At the same time, we pursue our prove opportunities to sustain eco-tourism. Even in the face of declin- work with a high degree of rigour in project approvals and in project ing salmon populations, eco-tourism in the rivers and watershed of is oversight. I believe this way of managing this exceptional organization becoming an ever more important basis of economic development. has contributed to the success of our project partner recipients, and our success. The Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation was created to ful- fil its wild Atlantic salmon conservation mandate in perpetuity. It is In managing the Foundation’s grant funding program, I have come a unique entity for its open, transparent and effective approach to to understand that wild Atlantic salmon conservation is only pos- funding worthy initiatives. Without question, the ASCF is an excellent sible if we encourage and sustain the committed volunteers who example of how government can help create a self-sustaining funding stand ready to pursue salmon conservation at the local level. Gov- source of funding to benefit the community, forever. ernments cannot save the salmon on their own. Therefore, it is imperative that the volunteer element remain engaged in salmon conservation action. The Foundation follows a fiscally prudent, long-term financial plan. 2019 saw our trust fund market value hover around $42 million. We granted a further $1.2 million in project funding, up from $1 million, to sixty-one grants. These projects represented a balanced mix of one- year and multi-year conservation project grants, bringing our overall Stephen Chase eleven-year contribution to $8.4 million with 535 funded projects. Executive Director The Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation 2019 ANNUAL REPORT 2 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 A Permanent and Effective Source of Conservation Project Funding for Wild Atlantic Salmon! Introduction ing to help conserve, restore and protect wild Atlantic salmon and The Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation was established to their habitat in Atlantic Canada and in Québec. provide funding and other support to community groups, Indig-