Bedeque Bay Environmental Management Association receives grant to support community aquatic ecosystem monitoring program

Canada's contribution to community grant program supports Youth Water Education and Monitoring Project

EGMONT, PE, June 4, 2014 /CNW/ - On behalf of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Minister for the Arctic Council, the Honourable Gail Shea today highlighted Canada's commitment to protect aquatic ecosystems.

The Bedeque Bay Environmental Management Association (BBEMA) received $86,322 from the Commission for Environmental Cooperation's (CEC) North American Partnership for Environmental Community Action (NAPECA) grant program. The funding will support the Youth Water Education and Monitoring Project. This initiative will help local young people in the community learn and implement water and fish habitat monitoring protocols through educational workshops, biological field sampling and other activities.

Environment Canada is committed to supporting watershed protection by partnering with BBEMA through the Atlantic Ecosystem Initiatives. In addition to funding received through the CEC's community action grant program, BBEMA has received close to $400,000 from Environment Canada over the past five years for water quality monitoring projects and the improving the habitat and biodiversity of the Bedeque Bay watershed.

Quick Facts

• The 2013-2015 North American Partnership for Environmental Community Action grant program, administered by the CEC, has dedicated $1.2 million to 18 projects from across Canada, Mexico and the United States to support innovative, community-based activities to address North America's environmental challenges.
• The North American Partnership for Environmental Community Action grant of $86,322 to the BBEMA will go toward the Youth Water Education and Monitoring Project to engage community members in understanding of the importance of Prince Edward Island's aquatic ecosystems, and encourage them to actively participate in aquatic ecosystem conservation and restoration initiatives.
• The BBEMA also collaborates with Environment Canada and academic partners on the Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Network to collect, assess, and distribute information on the condition and biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems in Canada.
• The BBEMA monitors 6 Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Network field sites to collect data that is used by the BBEMA, Environment Canada and others to identify and better understand environmental issues in watersheds and take actions to improve water quality and aquatic biodiversity.
• The CEC will celebrate its 20^th anniversary in 2014.
• Minister Leona Aglukkaq, as Chair of the CEC, will host the 2014 CEC Council Session in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, on July 17.

Quotes

"Our Government is proud to support the BBEMA as they work in partnership with their community to create solutions that will conserve and protect water resources for future generations of Canadians."

- The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, and Member of Parliament for Egmont, Prince Edward Island

"We are delighted to receive this support, which will provide us the funding base to hire a coordinator to engage more Island young people in our Adopt a River Program. At BBEMA, we feel it's important to help reconnect youth with their natural surroundings. By taking part in our program, they can experience first-hand the vital linkages between PEI's wildlife and the streams and other bodies of water that sustain our rich and diverse ecosystems. Their involvement will help build a legacy of environmental conservation and protection.''

- Tracy Brown, Executive Director, Bedeque Bay Environmental Management Association

Associated Links

Minister Aglukkaq marks the 20th anniversary of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation

CEC NAPECA Grants

SOURCE: Environment Canada

Ted Laking
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