Science Response 2016/046

Evaluation of Information Available to Support the Identification of Habitat Necessary for the Survival and Recovery of Basking Shark in Canadian Pacific Waters

Context

When an aquatic species is listed on Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA) as Threatened, Endangered or Extirpated, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is required to identify and protect habitat required for the survival and recovery of the species, which is linked to the population and distribution objectives established in a species recovery strategy.  The identification is based on the best available information and is typically provided in the form of scientific advice (peer-reviewed research document and scientific advisory report). 

Basking Shark are currently listed under SARAas an Endangered species.  Both a Recovery potential assessment (DFO 2009) and a Recovery Strategy have been completed for this species (DFO 2011). The Recovery Strategy notes that “Adequate information does not exist to identify critical habitat at this time” (p. iii).  A schedule of studies was identified in the Recovery Strategy, outlining research required to contribute to the future identification of critical habitat, with the recognition that it “may take decades to address the issue of identifying critical habitat, given the long lived nature of the species, a lack of documented recent sightings in Canada, and the associated long-term scope of this recovery strategy” (p. iii). 

In support of the requirements under SARA, DFO Science has been asked to undertake an assessment and update of the information available for Basking Shark, in support of a potential future habitat assessment based on the national Guidelines for the Identification of Critical Habitat for Aquatic Species at Risk (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2015^{Footnote 1}).  This advice may be used to inform the identification of habitat necessary for the survival and recovery of Basking Shark, and/or be used in an action plan for this species.

This Science Response results from the Science Response Process of May 2016 on the Evaluation of Information Available to Support the Identification of Habitat Necessary for the Survival and Recovery of Basking Shark.

Complete document (PDF, 933 KB)

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