Terms of Reference

Recovery Potential Assessment (RPA) of Mapleleaf, Rainbow, Eastern Pondmussel and Fawnsfoot

Regional Advisory Meeting, Central and Arctic Region

19-20 October 2010
Burlington Art Centre, Burlington, ON

Co-chairs: Todd Morris and Lynn Bouvier

Background

The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) has designated Eastern Pondmussel (April 2007), Fawnsfoot (April 2008), Maplepleaf (April 2006) and Rainbow (April 2006) as Endangered. None of the four mussel species are currently listed under the Species at Risk Act (SARA).

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Science has been asked to undertake a Recovery Potential Assessment (RPA) for the Eastern Pondmussel, Fawnsfoot, Mapleleaf and Rainbow. DFO Science developed the RPA framework to provide the information and scientific advice required for the Department to meet various requirements of the SARA including listing decisions, authorizations to carry out activities that would otherwise violate the SARA and development of recovery strategies. The advice in the RPA may be used to inform both scientific and socio-economic elements of the listing decision, as well as development of a recovery strategy and action plan,  and to support decision-making with regards to the issuance of permits, agreements and related conditions, as per section 73, 74, 75, 77 and 78 of SARA. 

This advisory meeting is being held to assess the recovery potential of Eastern Pondmussel, Fawnsfoot, Mapleleaf and Rainbow. The resulting RPA Science Advisory Report will summarize the current understanding of the distribution, abundance and trend of these species, along with recovery targets and times to recovery. The current state of knowledge about habitat requirements, threats to both habitat and to the species, and measures to mitigate these impacts, will also be included in the Science Advisory Report.  

Objectives

The intent of this meeting is to assess the recovery potential of the Eastern Pondmussel, Fawnsfoot, Mapleleaf and Rainbow using  the 17 steps in the RPA framework outlined in the Summary section of the Revised Protocol for Conducting Recovery Potential Assessments. The advice will be provided to the DFO Minister for her consideration in meeting various requirements of SARA for these species.

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 Document(s) produced from the working paper(s) presented at the meeting. Advice from the meeting will be published in the form of a Science Advisory Report.

Participants

Experts from DFO, Environment Canada, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Walpole Island First Nations, Bishops Mills Natural History Centre, conservation authorities and academia have been invited to this meeting. Participants will not exceed a maximum of 20 people.