Terms of Reference

Recovery Potential Assessment – Chilcotin River and Thompson River Steelhead Trout (Onchorhyncus mykiss) Designatable Units

Regional Peer Review Meeting – Pacific Region

September 20-21, 2018
Nanaimo British Columbia

Chairperson: Sean MacConnachie

Context

After the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) assesses an aquatic species as Threatened, Endangered or Extirpated, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) undertakes a number of actions required to support implementation of the Species at Risk Act (SARA). Many of these actions require scientific information on the current status of the wildlife species, threats to its survival and recovery, and the feasibility of 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 consideration of peer-reviewed scientific analyses into SARA processes including recovery planning.

Both Chilcotin River Steelhead Trout and Thompson River Steelhead Trout were assessed as Endangered by COSEWIC in an emergency assessment in January 2018 based on population decline of 79%-81% respectively (COSEWIC 2018). 

Under normal circumstances, when an RPA is undertaken 22 different elements are reviewed to inform not only a listing decision under SARA, but subsequent recovery planning.  In an emergency listing situation the process has been abridged to focus on 1) providing advice on the imminent threat opinion to be made by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada, and 2) inform the development of management scenarios for the listing process under SARA.

DFO Science has been asked to undertake a modified RPA, based on the national RPA Guidance. The advice in the RPA may be used to inform both scientific and socio-economic aspects of the listing decision, development of a recovery strategy and action plan, and to support decision making with regards to the issuance of permits or agreements, and the formulation of exemptions and related conditions, as per sections 73, 74, 75, 77, 78 and 83(4) of SARA. The advice in the RPA may also be used to prepare for the reporting requirements of SARA s.55.

Objective

• To provide up-to-date information, and associated uncertainties, to address the following elements:

Biology, Abundance, Distribution and Life History Parameters

Element 1: Summarize the biology of Thompson River and Chilcotin River Steelhead Trout.

Element 3: Estimate the current or recent life-history parameters for Thompson River and Chilcotin River Steelhead Trout

Habitat and Residence Requirements

Element 7: Evaluate to what extent the concept of residence applies to the species, and if so, describe the species’ residence.

Threats and Limiting Factors to the Survival and Recovery of Thompson River and Chilcotin River Steelhead Trout

Element 8: Assess and prioritize the threats to the survival and recovery of the Thompson River and Chilcotin River Steelhead Trout.

Element 9: Identify the activities most likely to threaten (i.e., damage or destroy) habitat properties.

Element 10: Assess any natural factors that will limit the survival and recovery of the Thompson River and Chilcotin River Steelhead Trout

Recovery Targets

Element 12: Propose candidate abundance and distribution target(s) for recovery.

Element 13: Project expected population trajectories over a scientifically reasonable time frame (minimum of 10 years), and trajectories over time to the potential recovery target(s), given current Thompson River and Chilcotin River Steelhead Trout population dynamics parameters.

Element 15: Assess the probability that the potential recovery target(s) can be achieved under current rates of population dynamics parameters, and how that probability would vary with different mortality (especially lower) and productivity (especially higher) parameters.

Scenarios for Mitigation of Threats and Alternatives to Activities

Element 17: Develop an inventory of activities that could increase the productivity or survivorship parameters (as identified in elements 3 and 15).

Element 20: Project expected population trajectory (and uncertainties) over a scientifically reasonable time frame and to the time of reaching recovery targets, given mortality rates and productivities associated with the specific measures identified for exploration in element 19. Include those that provide as high a probability of survivorship and recovery as possible for biologically realistic parameter values.

Allowable Harm Assessment

Element 22: Evaluate maximum human-induced mortality and habitat destruction that the species can sustain without jeopardizing its survival or recovery.

Expected Publications

• Science Advisory Report
• Proceedings
• Research Document

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Ecosystems Management Branch, Science Branch, and Fisheries Management)
• Province of BC
• Aboriginal communities
• Industry (commercial)
• ENGO
• Sports Fishery Advisory Board

References

COSEWIC 2018. Technical summaries and Supporting Information for Emergency Assessments of Steelhead Trout Oncorhyncus mykiss  ( Thompson River and Chilcotin River populations). February 2018. (accessed June 2018).