Proceedings 2021/032
Proceedings of the Zonal Peer Review on the Recovery Potential Assessment – Lake Sturgeon, Acipenser fulvescens, Designatable Unit 4 (Great Lakes-Upper St. Lawrence Populations); March 19–20, 2019
Chairpersons: Chantelle Sawatzky and Justin Shead
Editor: Chantelle Sawatzky
Summary
A zonal science peer-review meeting was held on March 19–20, 2019 in Gatineau, Québec. The purpose of the meeting was to assess the recovery potential of the Great Lakes-Upper St. Lawrence populations (Designatable Unit [DU] 4) of Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens), to provide advice that may be used for the listing decision, development of a recovery strategy and action plan, and to support decision making with regards to the issuance of permits and agreements. Participants included DFO Science, Species at Risk, and Policy programs, Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs du Québec, Hydro-Québec, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Ontario Power Generation Inc., the Anishinabek/Ontario Fisheries Resource Centre, and environmental consultants.
The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) designated Lake Sturgeon in DU4 as Threatened in April 2017. COSEWIC’s reason for designation is that Lake Sturgeon is one of the largest, longest-lived, freshwater fish species in Canada and has special significance to Indigenous Peoples. The main reasons for historical declines in most populations, harvesting and dams, are clearly reversible and understood, but have not ceased in all populations. Some populations appear not to have been severely impacted and some populations appear to be recovering but are not yet secure.
This proceedings report summarizes the relevant discussions from the meeting and presents recommended revisions to be made to the associated research documents. The Proceedings, Science Advisory Report, and Research Documents resulting from this science advisory meeting are published on the DFO Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) website.
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