Terms of Reference

Review of the Inner Bay of Fundy Atlantic Salmon Science Associated with the Live Gene Bank

Regional Advisory Process - Maritimes Region

June 13 - 16, 2017
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

Chairperson: Kent Smedbol

Context

The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) identified the inner Bay of Fundy (iBoF) Atlantic Salmon assemblage as a Designatable Unit (DU) and assessed this population as Endangered in May 2001 (COSEWIC 2006). Furthermore, this population was included as Endangered on Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA) when the Act was passed in 2002. In 1998, prior to listing under SARA, population trends observed in several rivers of the Inner Bay of Fundy prompted the collections of juveniles to be reared in the Biodiversity Facilities in the Maritimes Region (Mactaquac, Mersey, and Coldbrook biodiversity facilities) effectively initiating the present-day Live Gene Bank (LGB) programs. The objective of the LGB program is to use captive breeding and rearing technologies to conserve genetic characteristics of iBoF Salmon and maintain populations until recovery can occur (DFO 2008a). In 2008, the Recovery Potential Assessment (RPA) forecasted that this population would be extinct without the support of the LGB program (DFO 2008b; Gibson et al. 2008).

Several evaluations have been conducted to assess the scientific merit of the Live Gene Bank program. In 2004, a review was done for the Director General of Fisheries, Environment and Biodiversity Science. In 2006, COSEWIC contracted a review of the status and assessment of the iBoF Salmon population, which resulted in COSEWIC confirming the previous assessment of endangered and, in 2008, an RPA was completed for iBoF Salmon to support recovery planning under SARA. In 2008, DFO Science also struck a national working group that produced a Science Advisory Report evaluating the contribution of captive breeding facilities to biodiversity conservation. Additionally, since its inception, yearly updates and summaries of ongoing assessment activities and genetic analyses have helped, and continue to help, adaptively manage the LGB program and guide the iBoF Salmon program through the Planning Group and Recovery Teams (DFO 2010).

However, a comprehensive analysis and review of the LGB program on the recovery of the iBoF population does not exist for the lifetime of the program. Therefore, DFO Maritimes Science requested the evaluation of iBoF Salmon science with respect to all LGB activities. The intent of this review is to provide an assessment of the LGB program following three generations (i.e., 15 years) of iBoF Salmon population restoration and maintenance as population recovery has yet to occur. This review will direct the development of an updated 5-year plan for the LGB program.

Objectives

The purpose for this meeting is to evaluate the contribution of the LGB program in achieving two key objectives of the iBoF Salmon Recovery Strategy:  1) to conserve the genetic characteristics of iBoF Salmon and 2) to help re-establish wild self-sustaining populations of iBoF Salmon.

More specifically, the objectives of the meeting are to:   

• Evaluate the success of conserving genetic characteristics of the iBoF Salmon population across three generations of captive breeding and rearing,    
• Investigate the origins and levels of inbreeding in iBoF Salmon,
• Evaluate the effects of the overall program (multiple generations of captive breeding and rearing), and specific management strategies employed within, on fitness-related traits in iBoF Salmon, and
• Assess the status of Atlantic salmon in the iBoF DU based on DFO information, and where possible, evaluate the different release strategies of the LGB program.

In addition, the meeting will also report recent findings of possible introgression of non-native wild and aquaculture genetic material into iBoF populations, a new potential threat to the conservation of iBoF genetic characteristics.

Expected Publications

• Research Documents (3) 
• Proceedings
• Science Advisory Report

Participation

• DFO Science
• DFO Species at Risk Management Division
• DFO Fisheries & Aquaculture Management
• Parks Canada Agency- Fundy National Park
• Aboriginal Organizations and First Nations 
• NGOs  
• Technical expert reviewers

References

COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada). 2006. COSEWIC Assessment Summary – November 2008: Rainbow Smelt - Lake Utopia large-bodied population.

DFO (Fisheries and Oceans Canada). 2008a. Evaluation of Captive Breeding Facilities in the Context of their Contribution to Conservation of Biodiversity. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2008/027.

DFO (Fisheries and Oceans Canada). 2008b. Recovery Potential Assessment for Inner Bay of Fundy Atlantic Salmon. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2008/050.

DFO (Fisheries and Oceans Canada). 2010. Recovery Strategy for the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), inner Bay of Fundy populations [Final]. In Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Ottawa: Fisheries and Oceans Canada. xiii + 58 pp. + Appendices.

Gibson, A.J.F., Bowlby, H.D., Bryan, J.R., and Amiro, P.G. 2008. Population Viability Analysis of inner Bay of Fundy Atlantic Salmon with and without Live Gene Banking. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2008/057.