Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Fund

Who is eligible?

• Indigenous organizations, communities, governments, boards, commissions, associations, authorities, and partnerships
• Non-profit, charitable, volunteer, and professional organizations
• Academic and educational institutions
• For-profit companies, including small businesses with fewer than 500 employees
• Municipal or local governments and conservation authorities

Who is not eligible

• Individuals
• Non-Canadian organizations
• Provincial and territorial governments
• Federal departments, agencies, and Crown corporations

Eligible expenses

• Expenses related to awareness and education activities, including materials and training sessions on aquatic invasive species prevention.
• Costs for rapid detection and sampling, such as DNA sampling materials, field equipment, and use of boats, drones, or underwater cameras.
• Expenses associated with small-scale intervention following new invasions, including planning, coordination, and containment or removal of invasive species (manual, mechanical, trapping, or netting methods).
• Costs for establishing and operating boat cleaning stations and removing biofouling from boats and port structures.
• Expenses for applying anti-fouling paint on relevant structures.
• Expenditures related to short-term control and management of invasive species at an established site, including removal or containment.
• Research costs aimed at developing prevention, detection, identification, intervention, and control tools specific to aquatic invasive species.

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Projects that do not address aquatic invasive species
• Projects involving deleterious substances
• Large-scale response, eradication, or control projects
• Projects costing more than $250,000 per year
• Projects requiring more than 3 years of funding

Eligible geographic areas

• New Brunswick
• Prince Edward Island
• Nova Scotia
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Alberta
• Manitoba
• Ontario
• Saskatchewan
• Québec
• British Columbia
• Yukon

• Indigenous leadership or involvement
• Alignment with national and regional priorities
• Project quality and feasibility
• Environmental benefits and long-term impact
• Multiple partners and a letter of support from the lead provincial or territorial agency

• Step 1: Review Priorities and Prepare Proposal
  • Align your project with the fund’s national and regional priorities.
  • Ensure your proposed activities are eligible and contribute to the prevention, detection, or management of aquatic invasive species.
  • Develop a comprehensive project plan, including objectives, methodology, and the expected impact.
• Step 2: Compile Required Documentation
  • Prepare a detailed project plan and sampling plan, if applicable.
  • Include any necessary letters of support from relevant organizations or authorities.
  • Gather all relevant supporting documents required by the funding body.
• Step 3: Submit Application
  • Send your completed application to the regional coordinator of the Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Fund as specified by the program.
  • Ensure all documents are complete and submitted before the deadline.
• Step 4: Confirmation of Receipt
  • Receive confirmation of your application’s receipt from the regional program coordinator within 5 business days.
• Step 5: Evaluation and Notification
  • Your application will be evaluated based on eligibility and grant priorities.
  • Decisions regarding funding will be communicated to applicants by the specified date.
  • You may receive full, partial, or no funding, or be placed on an overrun list pending availability of additional funds.
• Step 6: Negotiation and Agreement
  • If your project is approved, negotiate and sign a formal contribution agreement before receiving funding.

• Applications are reviewed after submission.
• Applicants receive confirmation of receipt within 5 working days.
• Funding decisions are communicated to all applicants.
• Successful applicants must negotiate a formal contribution agreement before funding is received.
• There is no formal appeal process for rejected projects.

• An official contribution agreement must be signed before any funds are disbursed.
• Notifications concerning funding decisions will be sent to all applicants no later than December 14, 2023.
• Applicants may request feedback on rejected proposals from regional programme coordinators.
• Selected projects must be implemented no later than April 1, 2024.