Proceedings 2024/018

Proceedings of the Regional Peer Review of the Recovery Potential Assessment – Northern Brook Lamprey (Ichthyomyzon fossor) – Saskatchewan-Nelson River Population; April 19–21, 2023

Chairperson: Julia Colm

Editors: Travis Durhack and Zing-Ying Ho

Summary

A regional Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat peer-review meeting was held April 19-21, 2023 as a hybrid meeting, in person at the Freshwater Institute in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and online. The purpose of the meeting was to conduct a recovery potential assessment of Northern Brook Lamprey (Ichthyomyzon fossor) in the Saskatchewan - Nelson River Designatable Unit (DU). Advice from this meeting may be used for a listing decision under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) and the development of supporting research documents, including a recovery strategy and action plan, and to support decision making in regards to the issuance of permits and agreements within the DU. Meeting participants included experts from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Great Lakes Fishery Commission, Manitoba Natural Resources and Northern Development, and academic experts from Canada and the United States.

In 2020, the Northern Brook Lamprey Saskatchewan - Nelson River DU was re-assessed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) and designated as Endangered. The known distribution of Northern Brook Lamprey in the Saskatchewan - Nelson River DU is constrained to the Whitemouth River and its tributary the Birch River in Manitoba. However, due to low targeted sampling and unknown population status, the range of the species distribution within the DU may extend beyond what is currently known. This DU faces threats related to stream flows and increasing temperatures under current and future climates.

This proceedings document summarizes the relevant discussions from the peer-review meeting and presents revisions to be made to the associated draft Research Documents. The Proceedings, Science Advisory Report and the supporting Research Documents resulting from this science advisory meeting will be published on the DFO Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat Website.

Proceedings 2024/018 (PDF, 429 KB)

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