Proceedings 2020/013

Proceedings of the Regional Science Advisory Process on the Recovery Potential Assessment of Channel Darter (Percina copelandi), Lake Erie (DU1) and Lake Ontario (DU2) populations in Canada; July 9, 2019

Chairperson: Sarah Bailey

Editor: Tessa Brinklow

Summary

A regional science peer-review meeting was held on 9 July 2019 in Burlington, Ontario. The purpose of the meeting was to assess the recovery potential of Channel Darter (Percina copelandi), Lake Erie (DU1) and Lake Ontario (DU2) populations in Canada by providing updated information and associated uncertainties related to the 2010 RPA, advice that may be used for the development of a recovery strategy and action plan, and to support decision making with regards to the issuance of permits or agreements. Participants included DFO Science, Policy, Species at Risk Management and Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program (Central and Arctic Region), the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (OMNRF), Parks Canada (Trent Severn and Point Pelee), St. Clair Region Conservation Authority, and academic experts.

The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) originally considered Channel Darter to be a single unit, and the species was designated as Threatened in April 1993. A reassessment by the committee in May 2002 confirmed the species' status as Threatened. In November 2016, Channel Darter was split into three separate units – the Lake Erie (DU1), Lake Ontario (DU2), and St. Lawrence (DU3) populations. The Lake Erie (DU1) and Lake Ontario (DU2) populations were designated as Endangered, while the St. Lawrence (DU3) population was down-listed to Special Concern (and was not covered in this RPA as such). Lake Erie (DU1) and Lake Ontario (DU2) Channel Darter populations are found only in Ontario with the majority of the remaining Lake Erie (DU1) populations found within nearshore lake and river habitats, and the Lake Ontario (DU2) populations limited to tributaries in the Bay of Quinte. Remaining populations have experienced dramatic reductions in range and abundance due to ongoing threats related to habitat modification and the invasive Round Goby (Neogobius melanostomus). Channel Darter DUs 1 & 2 are currently listed on Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA) as Endangered (August 2019), and is currently assessed as Special Concern under Ontario's Endangered Species Act (May 2017).

This proceedings report summarizes the relevant discussions from the peer-review meeting and presents recommended revisions to be made to the associated research documents. The Proceedings, Science Advisory Report and supporting Research Documents resulting from this science advisory meeting are published on the DFO Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) website.

Proceedings 2020/013 (PDF, 374 KB)

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