Terms of Reference

Recovery Potential Assessment – Lake Sturgeon, Acipenser fulvescens, Designatable Unit 4 (Great Lakes-Upper St. Lawrence Populations)

Zonal Peer Review – Central and Arctic Region and Quebec Region

March 19-20, 2019
Gatineau, QC

Co-Chairs: Chantelle Sawatzky and Justin Shead

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.

COSEWIC met in April 2017 and recommended that Lake Sturgeon in designatable unit (DU) 4 (Great Lakes-Upper St. Lawrence populations) be designated Threatened. Lake Sturgeon was previously assessed by COSEWIC in 2006 and prior to that in 1986. The species was divided into eight DUs for the 2006 assessment; five were designated Endangered, one Threatened, and two Special Concern. A Recovery Potential Assessment was undertaken in 2008 for the six DUs designated Endangered and Threatened in the 2006 COSEWIC assessment. The number of DUs has been reduced to four in the 2017 assessment based on the national freshwater biogeographic zones used by COSEWIC and supplemental genetic information. None of the DUs are currently listed under the SARA.

In support of listing recommendations for Lake Sturgeon by the Minister, DFO Science has been asked to undertake an 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. The advice generated via this process will update and/or consolidate any existing advice regarding Lake Sturgeon.

Objective

• To provide up-to-date information, and associated uncertainties, to address the following elements relevant to Lake Sturgeon in DU 4:

Biology, Abundance, Distribution and Life History Parameters

Element 1: Summarize the biology of Lake Sturgeon.

Element 2: Evaluate the recent species trajectory for abundance, distribution and number of populations.

Element 3: Estimate the current or recent life-history parameters for Lake Sturgeon.

Habitat and Residence Requirements

Element 4: Describe the habitat properties that Lake Sturgeon needs for successful completion of all life-history stages. Describe the function(s), feature(s), and attribute(s) of the habitat, and quantify by how much the biological function(s) that specific habitat feature(s) provides varies with the state or amount of habitat, including carrying capacity limits, if any.

Element 5: Provide information on the spatial extent of the areas in Lake Sturgeon distribution that are likely to have these habitat properties.

Element 6: Quantify the presence and extent of spatial configuration constraints, if any, such as connectivity, barriers to access, etc.

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 Lake Sturgeon

Element 8: Assess and prioritize the threats to the survival and recovery of the Lake Sturgeon

Element 9: Identify the activities most likely to threaten (i.e., damage or destroy) the habitat properties identified in elements 4-5 and provide information on the extent and consequences of these activities.

Element 10: Assess any natural factors that will limit the survival and recovery of the Lake Sturgeon.

Element 11: Discuss the potential ecological impacts of the threats identified in element 8 to the target species and other co-occurring species. List the possible benefits and disadvantages to the target species and other co-occurring species that may occur if the threats are abated. Identify existing monitoring efforts for the target species and other co-occurring species associated with each of the threats, and identify any knowledge gaps.

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 Lake Sturgeon population dynamics parameters.

Element 14: 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 the potential recovery target(s) identified in element 12.

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 16: Develop an inventory of feasible mitigation measures and reasonable alternatives to the activities that are threats to the species and its habitat (as identified in elements 8 and 10).

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

Element 18: If current habitat supply may be insufficient to achieve recovery targets (see element 14), provide advice on the feasibility of restoring the habitat to higher values. Advice must be provided in the context of all available options for achieving abundance and distribution targets.

Element 19: Estimate the reduction in mortality rate expected by each of the mitigation measures or alternatives in element 16 and the increase in productivity or survivorship associated with each measure in element 17.

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.

Element 21: Recommend parameter values for population productivity and 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 in support of the listing process.

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(s)
• Proceedings
• Research Document(s)

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Ecosystems and Oceans Science, Aquatic Ecosystems, and Strategic Policy sectors)
• Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources; Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs du Québec; US Fish and Wildlife Service; Wisconsin Fish, Wildlife and Parks
• Academia
• Aboriginal communities/organizations
• Industry (Hydro-Québec, Ontario Power Generation)
• Other invited experts (environmental non-government organizations, consultants)

References

COSEWIC. 2017. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens), Western Hudson Bay populations, Saskatchewan-Nelson River populations, Southern Hudson Bay-James Bay populations, Great Lakes-Upper St. Lawrence populations in Canada, 2017. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa.