The Theodosia Salmon Enhancement Project was designed to address the alarming disappearance of the salmon while dealing with the need to stimulate the local economy in a sustainable and conservation-minded way.

This Ocean Enhancement project has been approved as a pilot project by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Ministry has signed a letter of understanding with Community Futures to this effect.

This project meets all of the salmon conservation and stock enhancement objectives outlined by both federal and provincial governments. The project is based on the production of excess returns to the Theodosia River. Rather than curtailing production, we propose to increase the number of returning fish to our rivers, and to target the excess returns by a combination of sport, recreational, native and ceremonial food fisheries.

This project is addressing the dramatic decline in the number of salmon returning to the river every year. In a last ditch effort to save the genetic diversity of the local salmon populations, we have initiated a gene-banking project for the remaining Coho and Chum runs.

The economic benefits to our community will be expressed in the revitalization of a depressed sport fishery. This new activity will stimulate the tourism industry with benefits to many other local support businesses. The fish caught in the terminal fishery will be used to simulate local processing plants, thus creating badly needed jobs.

Savoury Clam Project

Diversification is the key to survival and Community Futures took the first steps for the initiation of the precautionary approach outlined by PSARC for the development of a new fishery for the Savoury Clam (Nuttallia obscurata) ,an under-utilized species. The phase 0 stage of this process was completed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada thus identifying the work plan for phase 1 of the PSARC procedure. Through a number of proposals and strategic alliances ,Community Futures secured the funding for the next phase 1. Area C Clam Harvesters were contracted to work on this component of the project.

Community Futures developed a brilliant marketing strategy that would introduce this new seafood product to the restaurant and hotel markets, as well as to the average consumer. Community Futures forged a strategic alliance between federal and provincial agencies, shellfish growers, processing plants, top-notch chefs and marketing experts. The creation of new and exciting value- added products promises to generate a considerable economic benefit to the Powell River Region.

Powell River Salmon Society Old Mill Hatchery Relocation Project

The Powell River Salmon Society has been a major contributor to the salmon enhancement efforts in the Sunshine Coast for more than 18 years. With more than 21 million salmon released during this time, the Salmon Society found itself needing to expand its fish producing capacity. The Society's hatchery was operated from a site donated by Pacifica Papers Inc., but due to the age of the structure, the building was slated for demolition by the company. Community Futures assisted the Powell River Salmon Society by preparing and submitting funding proposals to a variety of funding organizations, including Fisheries Renewal BC and the Pacific Salmon Foundation. With the help of the community and a considerable contribution from Pacifica Papers and other good corporate citizens,the new hatchery is now complete and in full production. The entire project came to a total cost of $500,000.

Community Futures also played a major role in the upgrading of the wheelchair accessible footbridge for the society's Lang Creek Spawning Channel. Not only is this project a benefit to salmon it also plays a very important role in the public relations and educational strategy of the Salmon Society. The Society's universal accessibility policy mandates that all areas of the facility be wheelchair accessible. Over the years this bridge has given a large number of people with disabilities the opportunity to see and experience the mating and spawning rituals of the various species of Pacific Salmon.