Terms of Reference

Pre-COSEWIC Assessment for Atlantic Salmon

Zonal Advisory Meeting – Newfoundland and Labrador, Maritimes, Gulf and Quebec Regions

Part  I: Review of information for designatable units - October 26-29, 2020
Virtual meeting

Part II: Review of information Newfoundland and Labrador – February 1-4, 2021
Virtual meeting

Part III: Review of information province of Quebec – December 15-16, 2020
Virtual meeting

Part IV: Review of information Maritime Provinces – January 18-22, 2021
Virtual meeting

Chairpersons:

• Travis Van Leeuwen (DFO NL), Parts I and II
• Charley Cyr (DFO Quebec), Part III
• Cindy Breau (DFO Gulf), Part IV

Context

The implementation of the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA), proclaimed in June 2003, begins with an assessment of a species’ risk of extinction by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). COSEWIC is an independent advisory panel to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada that has been established under Section 14(1) of SARA to perform species assessments, which provide the scientific foundation for listing species under SARA. Therefore, an assessment initiates the regulatory process whereby the Governor in Council (GiC), on the recommendation of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada, must decide whether to accept COSEWIC’s assessment and add a species to Schedule 1 of SARA, which would result in legal protection for the species under the Act. If the species is already on Schedule 1 of SARA, the Minister may decide to keep the species on the list, reclassify it as per the COSEWIC assessment, or to remove it from the list (Section 27 of SARA). The Minister’s recommendation to the GiC is informed by advice from the competent minister(s). The Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard is competent minister for aquatic species.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), as a generator and archivist of information on marine species and some freshwater species, is to provide COSEWIC with the best information available to ensure that an accurate assessment of the status of a species can be undertaken.

Previously, Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) was assessed by COSEWIC in 2010 as comprising 16 designatable units of which the Lake Ontario DU was assessed as extinct in Canada (COSEWIC 2010). An update of the status for the 15 previously defined and extant designatable units was identified on COSEWIC’s Fall 2019 call for bids.

Objectives

The overall objective of this process is to peer-review DFO existing information relevant to the COSEWIC status assessment for Atlantic Salmon in Canadian waters, considering data related to the status and trends, threats to the species inside and outside Canadian waters, and to summarize the strengths and limitations of the information. The DFO held data and information up to and including the calendar year 2019 will be made available to the authors of the species status report, the co-chairs of the applicable COSEWIC Species Specialist Subcommittee, and to COSEWIC.

Specifically, DFO information relevant to the following will be reviewed to the extent possible:

1. Life history characteristics
• Growth parameters: age and/or length at maturity, maximum age and/or length;
• Total and natural mortality rates and recruitment rates (if data are available);
• Fecundity;
• Generation time (taken as the mean age of parents);
• Early-life history characteristics; and
• Specialized niche or habitat requirements, if any.


2. Review of designatable units

Available information on population differentiation, which could support a COSEWIC decision of which populations below the species’ level would be suitable for assessment and designation, will be reviewed. This information will include:

• Genetic information to support definition of DUs;
• Summary of life history information, previously published and in particular new information, to support the genetic information on population structure; and
• Extent to which manipulation of populations through intentional supplementation activities (hatchery stocking, adult transfers), recovery actions for endangered populations, and introgression with aquaculture escaped salmon may have otherwise modified the population structure for wild Atlantic salmon in eastern Canada.


3. Compilation and review of data to support the assessment of population status relative to the COSEWIC criteria for the species in Canada as a whole, and for each designatable units identified, if any.



COSEWIC Criterion A - Declining Total Population

1. Summarize overall trends in population size (both number of mature individuals and total numbers in the population) over as long a period as possible and in particular for the past three generations. Additionally, present data on a scale appropriate to the data to clarify the rate of decline.
2. Identify threats to abundance where declines have occurred over the past three generations, summarize the degree to which the causes of the declines are understood, and the evidence that the declines are a result of natural variability, habitat loss, fishing, or other human activity.
3. Where declines have occurred over the past three generations, summarize the evidence that the declines have ceased, are reversible, and the likely time scales for reversibility.



COSEWIC Criterion B - Small Distribution and Decline or Fluctuation: for the species in Canada as a whole, and for designatable units identified, using information in the most recent assessments:

1. Summarize the current extent of occurrence (in km²) in Canadian waters.
2. Summarize the current area of occupancy (in km²) in Canadian waters.
3. Summarize changes in extent of occurrence and area of occupancy over as long a time as possible, and in particular, over the past three generations.
4. Summarize any evidence that there have been changes in the degree of fragmentation of the overall population, or a reduction in the number of meta-population units.
5. Summarize the proportion of the population that resides in Canadian waters, migration patterns (if any), and known breeding areas.



COSEWIC Criterion C – Small Total Population Size and Decline and Very Small and Restricted: for the species in Canada as a whole, and for designatable units identified, using information in the most recent assessments:

1. Tabulate the best scientific estimates of the number of mature individuals.
2. If there are likely to be fewer than 10,000 mature individuals, summarize trends in numbers of mature individuals over the past 10 years or three generations, and, to the extent possible, causes for the trends.
3. Summarize the options for combining indicators to provide an assessment of status, and the caveats and uncertainties associated with each option.
4. For transboundary stocks, summarize the status of the population(s) outside of Canadian waters. State whether rescue from outside populations is likely.


4. Describe the characteristics or elements of the species’ habitat to the extent possible, and threats to that habitat.

Habitat is defined as “in respect of aquatic species, spawning grounds and nursery, rearing, food supply, migration and any other areas on which aquatic species depend directly or indirectly in order to carry out their life processes, or areas where aquatic species formerly occurred and have the potential to be reintroduced”.

1. Describe the functional properties that a species’ aquatic habitat must have to allow successful completion of all life history stages.

In the best cases, the functional properties will include both features of the habitat occupied by the species and the mechanisms by which those habitat features play a role in the survivorship or fecundity of the species. However, in many cases the functional properties cannot be described beyond reporting patterns of distribution observed (or expected) in data sources, and general types of habitat feature known to be present in the area(s) of occurrence and suspected to have functional properties. Information will rarely be equally available for all life history stages of an aquatic species, and even distributional information may be missing for some stages. Science advice needs to be carefully worded in this regard to clearly communicate uncertainties and knowledge gaps.

2. Provide information on the spatial extent of the areas that are likely to have functional properties.

Where geo-referenced data on habitat features are readily available, these data could be used to map and roughly quantify the locations and extent of the species’ habitat. Generally however, it should be sufficient to provide narrative information on what is known of the extent of occurrence of the types of habitats identified. Identify the activities most likely to threaten the functional properties, and provide information on the extent and consequences of those activities.



5. Threats

A threat is any activity or process (both natural and anthropogenic) that has caused, is causing, or may cause harm, death, or behavioural changes to a species at risk or the destruction, degradation, and / or impairment of its habitat to the extent that population-level effects occur. Naturally limiting factors, such as aging, disease and / or predation that limit the distribution and / or abundance of a species are not normally considered threats. However, they may be considered threats if they are altered by human activity or may pose a threat to a critically small or isolated population.

Past threats and future threats are important for determining COSEWIC status designations related to past and future population declines (Criterion A) and declines in habitat, area quantity and quality, locations (Criterion B), and mature individuals (Criterion C). For Criterion A it is important to determine the threat source but also if the causes of reduction are clearly reversible, understood, and if they have ceased.

The basis for the COSEWIC assessment with respect to impacts of current and future threats on population trajectories is the completion of a Threat Calculator which considers 11 major threat categories each of which has more than one secondary subdivision category. For each relevant subdivision threat the scope, timing, and severity are determined. The Threat Calculator categories are based on IUCN Threats Classification Scheme (Version 3.2).

COSEWIC’s operational guidelines require consideration of both the imminence of each identified threat, and the strength of evidence that the threat actually does cause harm to the species or its habitat. The information and advice from the Pre-COSEWIC review should provide whatever information is available on both of those points. In addition, the information and advice should include at least a narrative discussion of the magnitude of impact caused by each identified threat when it does occur.

The review of information related to threats should include:

• Review and update, as appropriate, the analyses of threats to Atlantic Salmon summarized in DFO and MRNF (2009) and in published Recovery Potential Assessments for Atlantic Salmon DUs previously assessed as threatened or endangered (DFO 2008, 2013a, 2013b, 2013c, 2014a, 2014b).
• Data and information on status and threats of mixed stock fisheries that occur within (Labrador subsistence fisheries) and outside territorial waters of Canada (Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Greenland).
• Review information and describe uncertainties relative to the scope, timing and severity of the categories of threats defined in the COSEWIC Threat Calculator and considering:
• It is important to determine the magnitude (severity), extent (spatial), frequency (temporal) and causal certainty of each threat.
• Distinction should be made between general threats (e.g. agriculture) and specific threats (e.g. siltation from tile drains), which are caused by general activities.
• The causal certainty of each threat must be assessed and explicitly stated as threats identified may be based on hypothesis testing (lab or field), observation, expert opinion or speculation.
• Review information and describe uncertainties on plausible future threats including the geographic or distinct ecological area(s) associated with the threats as well as areas not currently under threat but that may be affected in the future by these plausible threats.
• Review information to support assessment of the exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity of the species to climate change, including any data, analyses, or models that indicate vulnerability to particular impacts of climate change.


6. Manipulated Populations

An increasing number of wildlife species have seen their distribution or genetic make-up manipulated by humans, deliberately or accidentally. COSEWIC has developed guidelines to help determine the eligibility of populations for inclusion in wildlife species status assessments.

• Information available to DFO should be provided to facilitate such determination.


7. Other

Finally, as time allows, review status and trends in other indicators that would be relevant to evaluating the risk of extinction of the species. This includes the likelihood of imminent or continuing decline in the abundance or distribution of the species, or that would otherwise be of value in preparation of COSEWIC Status Reports.

Expected Publications

The following publications from the peer-review meeting will be posted on the CSAS website:

• Proceedings
• Research Document(s)

Expected Participation

The objective of the meeting is to assemble and review DFO existing information in support of the assessment of the species status by COSEWIC. No management advice is developed in this process. An opportunity is provided to Indigenous organizations to share Indigenous Traditional Knowledge that would be relevant to the assessment of status by COSEWIC. As such participation in this process is expected from:

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Science, Fisheries Management, Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program, Ecosystems Management (AIS), Species at Risk Program)
• COSEWIC status report author(s)
• Member(s) of COSEWIC (Co-Chairs and/or SSC experts)
• Provincial governments
• Indigenous organizations

References

COSEWIC. 2010. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar (Nunavik population, Labrador population, Northeast Newfoundland population, South Newfoundland population, Southwest Newfoundland population, Northwest Newfoundland population, Quebec Eastern North Shore population, Quebec Western North Shore population, Anticosti Island population, Inner St. Lawrence population, Lake Ontario population, Gaspé-Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence population, Eastern Cape Breton population, Nova Scotia Southern Upland population, Inner Bay of Fundy population, Outer Bay of Fundy population) in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. xlvii + 136 pp.

DFO. 2008. Recovery Potential Assessment for Inner Bay of Fundy Atlantic Salmon. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2008/050.

DFO. 2013a. Recovery Potential Assessment for the South Newfoundland Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) Designatable Unit. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2012/007.

DFO. 2013b. Recovery Potential Assessment for Southern Upland Atlantic Salmon. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2013/009.

DFO. 2013c. Recovery Potential Assessment for the Anticosti Island Atlantic Salmon Metapopulation. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2013/070.

DFO. 2014a. Recovery Potential Assessment for Eastern Cape Breton Atlantic Salmon. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2013/072.

DFO. 2014b. Recovery Potential Assessment for Outer Bay of Fundy Atlantic Salmon. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2014/021.

DFO and MRNF. 2009. Conservation Status Report, Atlantic Salmon in Atlantic Canada and Québec: PART II – Anthropogenic Considerations. Can. MS Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. No. 2870, 175 p.