Terms of Reference

Recovery Potential Assessment for Acadian redfish (S. fasciatus), Atlantic Canada Designatable Unit (DU) and Deepwater redfish (S. mentella), Northern and Gulf of St. Lawrence - Laurentian Channel DU

Zonal Advisory Process: Québec

March 8-9, 2011*
Mont-Joli, Qc

Chairperson: Dominique Gascon

Context

When the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) designates aquatic species as threatened or endangered, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (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, and the feasibility of its 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.

Redfish belong to a group of fish that is commercially exploited in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. In the Northwest Atlantic, the two main redfish species (Deepwater Redfish (Sebastes mentella) and Acadian Redfish (S. fasciatus)) were assessed by COSEWIC in 2010, due to evidence of declines in some stocks. Deepwater Redfish, which is found from the south of Newfoundland up to Baffin Bay, was assessed as two designated units: Gulf of St. Lawrence / Laurentian Channel population (Endangered) and Northern population (Threatened). Acadian Redfish, which is found from the Gulf of Maine to the Labrador Sea, was considered as two designated units: Atlantic population (Threatened) and Bonne Bay population (Special Concern).

In support of listing recommendations for redfish by the Minister, DFO Science has been asked to undertake an RPA, based on the National Frameworks (DFO 2007a and b).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. The advice generated via this process will also update and/or consolidate any existing advice regarding the three Redfish DUs that have been assessed as Endangered or Threatened by COSEWIC: Gulf of St. Lawrence / Laurentian Channel and Northern populations for Deepwater Redfish and Atlantic population for Acadian Redfish.

Objectives

To assess the recovery potential of the following DUs, which were designated as threatened or endangered:

Deepwater Redfish

• Gulf of St. Lawrence - Laurentian Channel population
• Northern population

Acadian Redfish

• Atlantic population

Assess current/recent species/ Redfish status

1. Evaluate present Redfish status for abundance (i.e., numbers and biomass focusing on matures) and range and number of populations for each DU.
2. Evaluate recent species trajectory for abundance (i.e., numbers and biomass focusing on matures) and range and number of populations.
3. Estimate, to the extent that information allows, the current or recent life-history parameters for Redfish (total mortality, natural mortality, fecundity, maturity, recruitment, etc.) or reasonable surrogates; and associated uncertainties for all parameters.
4. Estimate expected population and distribution targets for recovery, according to DFO guidelines (DFO 2005) and based on the limit reference points, where available, developed under the Precautionary Approach Framework.
5. Project expected Redfish population trajectories over at least three generations, and trajectories over time to the recovery target (if possible to achieve), given current Redfish population dynamics parameters and associated uncertainties using DFO guidelines on long-term projections (Shelton et al. 2007). See Annex 1 for details.
6. Evaluate residence requirements for the species, if any.

Assess the Habitat Use of Redfish

7. Provide functional descriptions (as defined in DFO 2007b) of the properties of the aquatic habitat that Redfish needs for successful completion of all life-history stages.
8. Provide information on the spatial extent of the areas in Redfish’s range that are likely to have these habitat properties.
9. Identify the activities most likely to threaten the habitat properties that give the sites their value, and provide information on the extent and consequences of these activities.
10. Quantify how the biological function(s) that specific habitat feature(s) provide to the species varies with the state or amount of the habitat, including carrying capacity limits, if any.
11. Quantify the presence and extent of spatial configuration constraints, if any, such as connectivity, barriers to access, etc.
12. Provide advice on how much habitat of various qualities / properties exists at present.
13. 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 and range and number of populations.
14. Provide advice on feasibility of restoring habitat to higher values, if supply may not meet demand by the time recovery targets would be reached, in the context of all available options for achieving recovery targets for population size and range.
15. Provide advice on risks associated with habitat “allocation” decisions, if any options would be available at the time when specific areas are designated as Critical Habitat.
16. Provide advice on the extent to which various threats can alter the quality and/or quantity of habitat that is available.

Scope for Management to Facilitate Recovery of Redfish

17. Assess the probability that the recovery targets (see Annex 1) can be achieved under current rates of Redfish population dynamics parameters, and how that probability would vary with different mortality (especially lower) parameters.
18. Quantify to the extent possible the magnitude of each major potential source of mortality identified in the pre-COSEWIC assessment, the COSEWIC Status Report, information from DFO sectors, and other sources.
19. Quantify to the extent possible the likelihood that the current quantity and quality of habitat is sufficient to allow population increase, and would be sufficient to support a population that has reached its recovery targets.
20. Assess to the extent possible the magnitude by which current threats to habitats have reduced habitat quantity and quality.

Scenarios for Mitigation and Alternative to Activities

21. Using input from all DFO sectors and other sources as appropriate, develop an inventory of all feasible measures to minimize/mitigate the impacts of activities that are threats to the species and its habitat (Steps 18 and 20).
22. Using input from all DFO sectors and other sources as appropriate, develop an inventory of all reasonable alternatives to the activities that are threats to the species and its habitat (Steps 18 and 20).
23. Using input from all DFO sectors and other sources as appropriate, develop an inventory of activities that could increase the productivity or survivorship parameters (Steps 3 and 17).
24. Estimate, to the extent possible, the reduction in mortality rate expected by each of the mitigation measures in step 21 or alternatives in step 22 and the increase in productivity or survivorship associated with each measure in step 23.
25. Project expected population trajectory (and uncertainties) over at least three generations for all stocks, and to the time of reaching recovery targets when recovery is feasible; given mortality rates and productivities associated with specific scenarios identified for exploration (see Annex 1). Include scenarios which provide as high a probability of survivorship and recovery as possible for biologically realistic parameter values.
26. Recommend parameter values for starting mortality rates, and where necessary, specialized features of population models that would be required to allow exploration of additional scenarios as part of the assessment of economic, social, and cultural impacts of listing the species.

Allowable Harm Assessment

27. Evaluate maximum human-induced mortality which the species can sustain and not jeopardize survival or recovery of the species.

Expected Publications

• CSAS Science Advisory Reports
• CSAS Proceedings of meeting
• CSAS Research Document(s)

Participation

DFO Science, Ecosystems and Fisheries Management, Oceans, Habitat and Species at Risk, Policy and Economics, Aboriginal Communities, Provinces, External Reviewers, Industry, Non-governmental organizations and Other Stakeholders will be invited to participate in this meeting.

References

COSEWIC. 2009. COSEWIC Status Report on the Deepwater Redfish/Acadian Redfish complex, Sebastes mentella and Sebastes fasciatus. 2 Month Interim Report. Committee on the status of endangered wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. ix+103 p.

DFO. 2005. A framework for developing science advice on recovery targets for aquatic species in the context of the Species at Risk Act. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2005/054.

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

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

Shelton, P.A., B. Best, A. Cass, C. Cyr, D. Duplisea, J. Gibson, M. Hammill, S. Khwaja, M. Koops, K. Martin, B. O’Boyle, J. Rice, A. Sinclair, K. Smedbol, D. Swain, L. Velez-Espino, and C. Wood. 2007. Assessing recovery potential: long-term projections and their implications for socio-economic analysis. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2007/045.

* Updated: March 4, 2011