Terms of Reference

Threat Assessment for Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta), Northwest Atlantic Population

Regional Science Response Process – Maritimes Region

December 12, 2016
Dartmouth, NS

Chairperson: Lottie Bennett

Context

The Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) was recommended for listing as endangered under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) in Canada Gazette 1 in August 2016. A final Ministerial decision on the listing of this species under SARA will be made by May 2017.  SARA requires that a Recovery Strategy be completed within 1 year of listing. A completed threat assessment table is a required component of a Species at Risk Recovery Strategy. Information on threats is needed to plan and prioritize recovery measures for the species, and to inform the regulatory and management decisions made by various DFO Sectors regarding human activities that interact with the species. The Loggerhead Sea Turtle Recovery Potential Assessment (DFO 2010) did not include a threat assessment.

The intent of this science advice is to provide a threat assessment for the Loggerhead Sea Turtle, in accordance with the criteria outlined in the DFO Guidance on Assessing Threats, Ecological Risk and Ecological Impacts for Species at Risk (DFO 2014). This includes an assessment of threats to Loggerhead Sea Turtles while they are in Atlantic Canadian waters and also throughout their broader range of the Northwest Atlantic.

Objectives

The objective of this regional science response process is:

• To provide a threat assessment for the Northwest Atlantic population of Loggerhead Sea Turtles while they are in Atlantic Canadian waters and also throughout their range of the broader Northwest Atlantic Ocean.

Expected Publication

• Science Response

Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Science
• DFO Species at Risk Management Division
• DFO Fisheries Management  
• North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

References

DFO. 2010. Recovery Potential Assessment for Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta) in Atlantic Canada. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2010/042.

DFO. 2014. Guidance on Assessing Threats, Ecological Risk and Ecological Impacts for Species at Risk. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2014/013.