Terms of Reference

Information for Identification of Candidate Critical Habitat of Bull Trout, Salvelinus confluentus (Saskatchewan-Nelson rivers populations)

Regional Science Response Process – Central and Arctic Region

February 27, 2020
Teleconference/WebEx

Chairperson: Eva Enders

Context

The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) has assessed Bull Trout, Salvelinus confluentus (Saskatchewan-Nelson rivers populations), Designatable Unit (DU) 4 as Threatened (COSEWIC 2012). In August 2019, the Government of Canada listed Bull Trout (Saskatchewan-Nelson rivers populations) as Threatened under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). Subsequently, a Recovery Strategy must be developed that identifies the species’ Critical Habitat. Under the SARA S.41.1(c), a species’ Critical Habitat must be identified to the greatest extent possible, based on the best available information.

DFO Species at Risk Program has requested Science Advice to support the identification of Critical Habitat for Bull Trout.

Objectives

The objectives of the peer review are to:

1. review available information on the habitat necessary for the survival and recovery of Bull Trout from the Saskatchewan-Nelson Rivers populations based on the features, functions, and attributes (DFO 2007) developed under the Recovery Potential Assessment conducted for the species (DFO 2017), and;
2. present locations of candidate Critical Habitat using the bounding box approach and best available information (DFO 2015).

Expected Publication

• Science Response

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Ecosystems and Oceans Science, Ecosystem Management)
• Parks Canada Agency (e.g., Banff, Waterton, Jasper, Lake Louise Yoho and Kootenay parks)
• Alberta Provincial Government

References

COSEWIC. 2012. COSEWIC Assessment and Status Report on the Bull Trout, Salvelinus confluentus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. iv + 103 p.

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. Guidelines for the Identification of Critical Habitat for Aquatic Species at Risk. Unpubl. Report, Ecosystem Management Branch, Ottawa, ON. 43 p.

DFO. 2017. Recovery Potential Assessment of Bull Trout, Salvelinus confluentus (Saskatchewan-Nelson rivers populations). DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep.2016/050.