Proceedings 2009/042

Proceedings of the Central and Arctic Regional Science Advisory Process on the Assessment of Information Required for the Identification of Critical Habitat for Pugnose Shiner, Spotted Gar, Lake Chubsucker and Northern Madtom; 29 May, 2008

Chairperson: N.E. Mandrak
Editor: K.A. Martin

Summary

A regional science peer review meeting was held on 29 May 2008 in Burlington, Ontario. The purpose of the review was to provide science advice on a conceptual framework to describe information required for the identification of critical habitat for freshwater fishes. The framework is meant to provide general guidance that may be adapted for broader usage. Science advice on the information and methods required for the identification of critical habitat for Lake Chubsucker (Erimyzon sucetta), Northern Madtom (Noturus stigmosus), Pugnose Shiner (Notropis anogenus) and Spotted Gar (Lepisosteus oculatus) was requested to inform the respective recovery strategies. Existing descriptions of critical habitat for some species and populations have been proposed by the recovery team and needed to be considered in range-wide recommendations to support the recovery team’s decision on the identification of critical habitat for the four species. Science advice on a population-by-population basis was requested for each of the four species across their Canadian range, taking into account the limited data available for each population. It became apparent at the meeting that the same approach could be used to provide advice for other freshwater fishes.

Meeting participants included DFO Science, Fish Habitat Management and Policy sectors from Central and Arctic Region and Headquarters, and specialists from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Parks Canada Agency, Government of British Columbia, University of Guelph, and Trent University. This proceedings report summarizes the relevant discussions and presents the key conclusions reached at the peer review meeting.

This report will be published in the Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Proceedings Series. There will be a CSAS Research Document produced in relation to the working papers presented at the workshop. The advice from the meeting will be published as a Science Advisory Report.

Complete document (PDF, 131 KB)

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