Science Response 2020/041

Using Satellite Tracking Data to Define Important Habitat for Leatherback Turtles in Atlantic Canada: 2019 Update

Context

This Science Response Report results from the Science Response Process of January 22, 2019 on the Review of Important Habitat for Leatherback Turtle in Atlantic Canadian Waters. The Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) was designated as Endangered by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) in April 1981 and reassessed as Endangered in 2001 (COSEWIC 2001) and 2012 (COSEWIC 2012). The species was listed under Appendix A of the Species At Risk Act (SARA) in June 2003, and a Recovery Strategy for the Leatherback Turtle in Atlantic Canada was published in February 2007 (Atlantic Leatherback Turtle Recovery Team 2006). The Recovery Strategy did not identify critical habitat for the species, but it did include a corresponding schedule of studies. SARA requires the competent minister to report on the implementation of a Recovery Strategy and progress toward meeting its objectives within five years of when it is included in the public registry. This prompted initiation of a Zonal Advisory Process (ZAP) in 2012 to define important habitat for Leatherback Turtles in Atlantic Canada using satellite tracking data. Results of the ZAP were summarized in a Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat Science Advisory Report (DFO 2012). The ZAP was referenced in the Report on the Progress of Recovery Strategy Implementation for the Leatherback Sea Turtle in Atlantic Canada 2007–2012 (DFO 2013); however, formal identification of critical habitat was deferred for inclusion in an amended Recovery Strategy.

The objective of this Science Response Process (SRP) was to identify persistent areas of important habitat for Leatherback Turtles in Canadian waters (Figure 1) by updating the earlier analysis of satellite telemetry data (DFO 2012) to reflect an enhanced sample size and longer-term dataset. The information generated in this SRP will be used by the Maritimes Region Species at Risk Management Division in the upcoming amended Recovery Strategy, and in the proposal of critical habitat for designation by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

Science Response 2020/041 (PDF, 820 KB)

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