Canada Nature Fund for Aquatic Species at Risk (CNFASAR)

• Funding for medium to large projects ranges from $50,000 to $1,000,000 over 3 years.
• Preference given to grant applications requesting under $15,000; higher amounts may be considered for collaborative or more complex projects.
• Administrative overhead is eligible up to 10% of the total program funding for contribution agreements and up to 15% for grant funding.
• Funding cannot be applied retroactively; only expenses incurred after approval are eligible.

• The applicant must be a non-profit organization, community-based organization, Indigenous organization, academic institution, domestic for-profit organization with 499 employees or less, or a provincial, territorial, municipal or local government and their agencies.
• The project must take place within a CNFASAR priority place or address a CNFASAR identified threat.
• The project must benefit at least one aquatic species listed under Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act (Endangered, Threatened, or Special Concern) and at least one other SARA-listed or COSEWIC-assessed at-risk aquatic species.
• The project must address recovery measures outlined in existing federal aquatic species at risk recovery documents.
• The application must demonstrate engagement of multiple partners and a plan to share results, and preference will be given to projects showing Indigenous leadership or partnership.

Who is eligible?

• Non-profit organizations, including environmental non-government organizations
• Community-based organizations
• Indigenous organizations (including economic institutions, corporations, cooperatives, tribal councils, Indigenous communities, Indigenous conservation groups, and self-governing First Nations governments)
• Academic researchers or institutions
• Domestic for-profit organizations with 499 employees or less (small and medium-sized enterprises, companies, corporations, industry associations)
• Provincial, territorial, municipal, and local governments and their agencies

Who is not eligible

• Companies whose activities are solely focused on non-aquatic environments.
• Organizations seeking funding for the development of new commercial or recreational fisheries’ habitats.
• Businesses proposing regulatory offsetting projects or decontamination as the primary focus.
• Entities planning shoreline restoration projects not associated with aquatic species at risk.
• Organizations intending to purchase or secure land as a project objective.

Eligible expenses

• Salaries and wages, including employer mandatory benefits for project activities.
• Professional, technical, and specialized services (including consulting and technical support).
• Construction and related project costs.
• Purchase or rental of machinery, equipment, materials, and supplies required for project delivery.
• Maintenance and repair of equipment or infrastructure directly related to the project.
• Rental of facilities or meeting spaces for project implementation.
• Training fees and necessary training materials for project execution.
• Honoraria and ceremonial costs (for Indigenous knowledge holders or Elders, relevant to the project).
• Travel expenses in compliance with National Joint Council Directives (meals, accommodation, allowances tied to project work).
• Conferences, workshops, and meetings directly linked to the project's objectives.
• Hospitality and related expenses as per federal directives, where required for project activities.
• Administrative overhead up to 10% of the overall program funding amount.
• Non-reimbursable GST/HST and PST paid on eligible project expenses.

Eligible geographic areas

• Fraser and Columbia Watersheds Priority Place (British Columbia)
• Rocky Mountains' Eastern Slopes Priority Place (Alberta)
• Southern Prairies Priority Place (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba)
• Arctic Priority Place (Nunavut, Northwest Territories, Yukon, Arctic Ocean, Quebec)
• Lower Great Lakes Watershed Priority Place (Ontario)
• St. Lawrence Lowlands Priority Place (Quebec)
• Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence Rivers Priority Place (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island)
• Bay of Fundy and Southern Uplands Watersheds Priority Place (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick)
• Southern Newfoundland Priority Place (Newfoundland and Labrador)

• Project takes place in a CNFASAR priority place or addresses a CNFASAR priority threat.
• Project benefits multiple aquatic species at risk, including at least one aquatic species (or designatable unit) listed as Endangered, Threatened, or Special Concern under SARA and at least one other SARA-listed or COSEWIC-assessed at-risk aquatic species.
• Project addresses recovery measures outlined in existing federal aquatic species at risk recovery documents.
• Project engages multiple partners.
• Project demonstrates a plan or willingness to share results publicly and/or with other CNFASAR recipients.

• Funding requests should be proportional to the complexity and depth of proposed activities; preference is given to applications under $15,000, but larger amounts may be considered for collaborative or complex initiatives.
• DFO will process applications in the order they are received; incomplete submissions may delay or disqualify an application.
• Information provided in applications is subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act.
• CNFASAR grant funding cannot be applied retroactively to activities or expenses incurred before grant approval.