Terms of Reference

Information for Identification of Candidate Critical Habitat of Athabasca Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Regional Peer Review Meeting – Central and Arctic Region

December 18, 2019
Teleconference/WebEx
Winnipeg, MB

Chairperson: Eva Enders

Context

The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) has assessed Athabasca Rainbow Trout as Endangered. Currently, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Species at Risk Program is assessing Athabasca Rainbow Trout for listing under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). If listed under SARA, a Recovery Strategy will be developed that must identify the species’ Critical Habitat defined as “the habitat that is necessary for the survival or recovery of a listed species and that is identified as the species critical habitat in the Recovery Strategy for the species”. Under SARA S.41.1(c) a species’ critical habitat must be identified to the extent possible, based on the best available information.

DFO Species at Risk Program has requested Science Advice in support of the identification of candidate Critical Habitat and residence for the Athabasca Rainbow Trout under SARA.

Objectives

The objectives of the peer review are to:

1. review information available on the habitat necessary for survival and recovery of Athabasca Rainbow Trout within Athabasca River watershed and summarise the function, features, and attributes (DFO 2007) of this habitat; and,
2. present potential locations of candidate Critical Habitat using the bounding box approach (DFO 2015).

Expected Publication

• Science Response

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) (Ecosystems and Oceans Science, Ecosystem Management)
• Alberta Provincial Government

References

DFO. 2007. Documenting Habitat Use of Species at Risk and Quantifying Habitat Quality. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2007/038.

DFO. 2015. Species at Risk Act (SARA) Guidelines for the Identification of Critical Habitat for Aquatic Species at Risk. Unpubl. report, January 2015, Ecosystem Management Branch, Ottawa, Canada. 
43 p.