Terms of Reference

Recovery Potential Assessment – Sei Whale (Balaenoptera borealis), Atlantic population

National Science Response Process - National Capital Region

February 23, 2022

Virtual meeting

Chairperson: Christine Abraham

Context

In May 2019, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) reassessed the Atlantic Population of Sei Whale (hereafter referred to as “Sei Whale”) as endangered, primarily due to a population decline likely greater than fifty percent over the past three generations from past whaling and other recent ongoing threats.

A Recovery Potential Assessment (RPA) presently involves a Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) process with a standardized Terms of Reference (ToR) consisting of 22 Elements. However, based on discussions with DFO Science, the Species at Risk Program in Newfoundland and Labrador Region has requested a subset of the ToR Elements to inform the listing recommendation for the Sei Whale, as the information required to satisfy the other Elements is either already available (e.g., in the COSEWIC status report), or does not exist for this species.

Objective

• To provide up-to-date information, and associated uncertainties, to address the following elements:

Threats and Limiting Factors to the Survival and Recovery of Sei Whale

Element 8: Assess and prioritize the threats to the survival and recovery of the Sei Whale.

Recovery Targets

Element 12: Propose candidate abundance and distribution target(s) for recovery.

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.

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 Response

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) (Ecosystems and Oceans Science)