Miramichi, NB: The Government of Canada and the Province of New Brunswick have partnered with the Collaboration for Atlantic Salmon Tomorrow (CAST) with a combined total of $4.7 million in research funding.

Read the federal and provincial government news releases here or here.

CAST is a unique collaboration of industry leaders, conservation groups, and scientists that was created in 2015 to address salmon conservation in New Brunswick. Its focus is to save the wild Atlantic salmon before it’s too late.

Federal and provincial representatives and stakeholders attend the funding announcement in Miramichi, N.B. Saturday. A total of $4.7 million will be used to help save wild Atlantic salmon in the Miramichi and Restigouche rivers. From left, MLA Bertrand LeBlanc, Minister Bill Fraser, MP Pat Finnigan, MLA Lisa Harris and CAST president, Brian Moore.

J.D. Irving, Limited (JDI) is a founding partner and proud contributor to this multi-year effort to reverse the decline of wild Atlantic salmon populations.

JDI is supporting one of the six CAST science projects currently underway: ARIS Sonar Population Tracking - new underwater sonar technology in Blackville, NB which accurately counts the number of returning salmon, providing real on-time data about salmon populations in the Miramichi.

“With everyone working together we will be successful," said Jim Irving, Co-CEO, J.D. Irving, Limited. “Our objective is to have the salmon populations return to their former levels of productivity, which will not only enhance the fishing experience and help the economy of rural New Brunswick, but most of all provide the right environment for a healthy salmon population.”

To find out more about CAST visit : castforsalmon.com