Terms of Reference

Scientific information in support of identifying Critical Habitat for White Sturgeon

Populations: Nechako River, Upper Columbia River, Kootenay River

Scientific information in support of a Recovery Potential Assessment for Vancouver lamprey Population: Vancouver Island & Hotwater physa Population: Laird River

Regional Advisory Meeting

23-25, June 2009

Pacific Biological Station

Nanaimo, BC

Chairperson: Al Cass

Context

When the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) designates aquatic species as Threatened or Endangered, DFO, as the responsible jurisdiction under the Species at Risk Act (SARA), is required to undertake a number of actions. Many of these actions require scientific information on the current status of the species, population or designable unit (DU), threats to its survival and recovery, including biological information in support of Critical Habitat identification, and the feasibility of population recovery. Formulation of this scientific advice has typically been developed through a Recovery Potential Assessment (RPA) that is conducted shortly after the COSEWIC assessment. This timing allows for the consideration of peer-reviewed scientific analyses into SARA processes including recovery planning decisions to the extent possible with the information available, and taking account of uncertainties.

White Sturgeon:

In November 2003, the white sturgeon was designated Endangered by COSEWIC for the following reasons: [white sturgeon] a long-lived species with a 30-40 year generation time and late maturity that has suffered over a 50% decline in the last three generations. Three of six populations are in imminent threat of extirpation. Extant populations are subject to threats of habitat degradation and loss through dams, impoundments, channelization, diking and pollution. Illegal fishing (poaching) and incidental catches are also limiting. In addition, a developing commercial aquaculture industry may also impose additional genetic, health and ecological risks to wild populations.

The species comprises six populations in Canada. In 2006, four populations (upper Fraser, Nechako, Kootenay, and Columbia) were added to Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA).  An RPA was competed in 2007 (DFO 2007a). Critical habitat was identified in the RPA but new information to support Critical Habitat identification has become available since the original RPA was developed.  The advice is requested by August 2009 and will be used to complete of the Recovery Strategy and to develop Recovery Action Plans. The advice generated from the peer-review process will update and/or consolidate the existing advice in the 2007 RPA.

Vancouver Lamprey:

In June 2000, the Vancouver Lamprey was designated Threatened by COSEWIC. The reason for designation was because the species is endemic to BC and occurs in a very restricted area. It is at risk due to intensive human activity. In 2003, the species was listed under SARA. A Recovery Strategy (2007) is posted on the Sara Public Registry.

Hotwater Physa:

In April 1998, Hotwater Physa was designated Endangered by COSEWIC. The reason for designation was because the species is a small endemic population with narrow ecological requirements occurring in an extremely restricted area subject to threats resulting from human use of hot springs pools. Probability of extinction is high. In 2003 the species was listed under SARA. A Recovery Strategy (2007) is posted on the Sara Public Registry.

Objectives

Document habitat use and quantify habitat quality, to the extent possible with the information available for Nechako, upper Fraser, Columbia and Kootenay White Sturgeon populations, and taking account of uncertainties. The DFO Framework (DFO 2007b) identifies information to consider in providing science advice in support of identifying Critical Habitat:

• Provide functional descriptions of the properties of the aquatic habitat needs for successful completion of all life-history stages.
• Provide information on the spatial extent of the areas in the range that are likely to have these properties.
• Identify the activities most likely to threaten the properties that give the sites their value, and provide information on the extent and consequences of these activities.
• Quantify the presence and extent of spatial configuration constraints, if any, such as connectivity, barriers to access, etc.
• Assess to the extent possible how threats to habitats identified in the COSEWIC Status Report (COSEWIC 2003) have reduced habitat quantity and quality to date, if at all.
• Provide advice on the degree to which supply of suitable habitat meets the demands of the species both at present, and when the species reaches biologically based recovery targets for abundance, marine and freshwater range, and number of rivers.
• Provide advice on the extent to which various threats can alter the quality and/or quantity of habitat that is available.
• Recommend research or analysis activities that are necessary in order to complete these habitat-use Terms of Reference if current information is incomplete.
• Provide advice on feasibility of restoring habitat to higher values, if supply may not meet demand by the time recovery targets would be reached.
• Provide advice on any tradeoffs (i.e., pros and cons) associated with habitat “allocation” options, if any options would be available at the time when specific areas are designated as Critical Habitat.

An RPA for Vancouver Lamprey and Hotwater Physa should be undertaken using DFO Science guidelines based on the National Frameworks (DFO 2007 b,c). In addition to habitat issues identified in the bullets above:

• Evaluate present abundance and range.
• Evaluate the recent species trajectory for abundance and range.
• Estimate, to the extent that information allows, the current or recent life-history parameters (total mortality, natural mortality, fecundity, maturity, recruitment, etc.) or reasonable surrogates; and associated uncertainties for all parameters.
• Estimate expected abundance and distribution targets for recovery.
• Project expected trajectories over three generations (or other biologically reasonable time), and trajectories over time to the recovery target (if possible to achieve), given current dynamics, parameters and associated uncertainties using DFO guidelines on long-term projections (Shelton et al. 2007).
• Assess the probability that the recovery targets can be achieved under current rates of dynamics parameters, and how that probability would vary with different mortality (especially lower) and productivity (especially higher) parameters.
• Quantify to the extent possible the magnitude of each major potential source of mortality identified in the COSEWIC Status Reports, information from DFO sectors, and other sources.

COSEWIC 2003. COSEWIC assessment and update status report on the white sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. vii + 51 pp.

DFO, 2007a.  Recovery potential assessment for white sturgeon. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2007/014.

DFO. 2007b. Documenting habitat use of species at risk and quantifying habitat quality. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2007/038.

DFO. 2007c. Revised Protocol for Conducting Recovery Potential Assessments. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2007/039.

Products

The meeting will generate a proceedings report summarizing the deliberations of the participants. This will be published in the Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Proceedings Series. There will be CSAS Research Documents produced in relation to the working paper(s) presented. Three CSAS Science Advisory Reports will also be completed.

Participants

Participants will include internal DFO representatives and potentially participants from the Province of British Columbia, academia, First Nations, NGO’s and industry.