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Review of the Effectiveness of Recovery Measures for St. Lawrence Estuary Beluga

Review of Recovery Measures

Review of the Effectiveness of Recovery Measures for St. Lawrence Estuary Beluga

Review of the Effectiveness of Recovery Measures for St. Lawrence Estuary Beluga (PDF, 1.26 MB)

Table of Contents

5. Review of Recovery Measures

5.1 Recovery Objectives

At the time of SARA listing, recovery of the SLE beluga population was deemed feasible (Hammill et al. 2007; DFO 2012). Currently, the ultimate recovery goal is to:

Increase population size to 7,070 individuals, or 70 % of the population historical size, to maintain a minimum population growth rate of 2%, and to reach a distribution corresponding to 70% of its historical extent.

Above 1,000 mature individuals, the population would be considered to have achieved a sufficiently large population size to maintain genetic diversity. At a growth rate of 4% (considered a default value for cetaceans), the long-term population objective was projected to be reached by 2050s. However, at the time the Recovery Strategy was published in 2012, the population was thought to be increasing only at a maximum rate of 1%, which extended the projected achievement of the long-term population objective to 2100.

There were six recovery objectives identified in the SLE beluga Recovery Strategy to reach population and distribution objectives, four of which directly address threats to the population. Two further objectives contain approaches that could contribute to address the first four objectives or that help tracking population status, threats and effectiveness of recovery measures. The objectives identified in the Recovery Strategy are:

  1. reduce contaminants in beluga, their prey, and their habitat;
  2. reduce anthropogenic disturbances;
  3. ensure adequate and accessible food supplies;
  4. mitigate the effects of other threats to population recovery;
  5. protect the beluga habitat in its entire distribution range; and
  6. ensure regular monitoring of the St. Lawrence Estuary beluga population.

5.2 Threats

According to the latest COSEWIC status report (2014) and Recovery Strategy (2012), the SLE beluga population has been massively depleted by hunting, which was banned in 1979, and is currently being threatened mainly by:

Among the threats identified in the Recovery Strategy, the following threats represented those of highest concern for the population recovery: high contamination of beluga, their prey and habitat; noise and disturbance associated with marine development projects, shipping and whale-watching activities; reduction in the abundance, quality and availability of prey; and other habitat degradation (e.g., from construction of docks, marinas, and hydroelectric dams, expanding tourism industry, dredging operations, introduction of exotic species). These threats are further detailed in the sections below and will be assessed for changes since the 2005 baseline, to provide an indication of the collective effectiveness of recovery measures aimed at abating them.

The threat due to low genetic diversity (consanguinity), which is a result of small population size, is not addressed further in this report.

Table 1. Threats to the recovery of SLE beluga as identified in the 2012 Recovery Strategy. The level of concern has been attributed by the Recovery Team; however, the definition corresponding to each level of concern was not provided in the Recovery Strategy.

Threat Source of threat (non-exhaustive list) Level of concern
Contaminants Industry, municipalities, agriculture High
Anthropogenic disturbances Whale-watching, shipping, recreational activities High
Other habitat degradation Construction activities, hydroelectric dams, introduction of exotic species, dredging High
Reduction in the abundance, quality, and availability of prey Climate variability, fisheries High
Harmful algal blooms Industry, municipalities, agriculture via input of nitrogen Medium
Entanglement in fishing gear Fisheries Medium
Vessel strikes Small (and fast) crafts Medium
Toxic spills Ships, port and marinas, industry Medium
Epizootic diseases Exotic species, other species (marine or terrestrial) in ecosystems Medium
Scientific activities Research vessels and aircrafts Low

Global warming was not considered as a threat to SLE beluga per se in the Recovery Strategy, although it is foreseen to increase mean water temperatures and to reduce sea ice extent and duration in the SLE beluga habitat. Sea ice may affect prey biomass and timing of spawning (e.g., Buren et al. 2014). For an Arctic species like the beluga, it might be expected that effects from a reduction in sea ice extent and increase in water temperature will be negative (Williams et al. in press).

5.3 Review of Recovery Measures

To address these threats, a series of broad strategies, each associated with a set of recovery measures, were proposed and prioritized for actions as part of the Recovery Strategy. Table 2 below is based on that.

Table 2. Recovery measures currently identified for the SLE beluga in the Recovery Strategy (DFO 2012) and achievements made since SARA listing in 2005. Priority refers to the priority currently assigned to the recovery measures in the Recovery Strategy. Status of the recovery measure is qualified as either ‘Completed’: the recovery measure, as currently written and in its entirety, describes an activity or task that was completed at a certain time in the past; ‘Completed but ongoing’: the recovery measure describes an activity or a task that needs to reoccur at some regular interval or that takes place on a continuum, and likely never has an end date; ‘Partially completed’: the recovery measure, as currently written and in its entirety, contains multiple elements, some of which have been completed and others that have not; ‘Not yet initiated’: a situation where, to our knowledge, no actions have been undertaken; ‘Unknown’: a situation where effort was made to find information on the status of the recovery measure but no information was found in the timeframe of this review.

Objective 1. Reduce contaminants in beluga, their prey, and their habitat that could prevent population recovery

Broad Strategy Recovery Measures Priority Achievement contributors Status of recovery measure Achievements since SARA listing (2005)
Study the effects of contaminants on beluga,
their key prey species, and sentinel species		 Study the effects of contaminants on survival, health, reproduction, and growth Critical DFO, Academia Partially completed
  • Cytochrome protein expression, as indicator of stress level, was found to be enhanced in SLE and other Arctic beluga, likely as a result of exposure to polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) which is a class of contaminants found in coal and tar deposits, and produced by aluminum smelters among other sources (Wilson et al. 2005)
  • Neurotoxicological risk of mercury exposure was estimated for beluga from the Arctic (Ostertag et al. 2014; Krey et al. 2015)
  • Studies contributing to understanding contaminant effects on beluga were conducted on other marine mammals (reviewed in Desforges et al. 2016)
  • Several studies hint at potential effects of contaminants on immune system and physiology, and thus on health. The reduced incidence of cancers in SLE beluga since polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were regulated might represent the strongest indication of a link between exposure to a class of contaminants and effects on health and survival
  • Information provided at the time of this review did not allow determination of whether measures to study effects of contaminants on key beluga prey and sentinel species were implemented or not
Evaluate the risks of impacts from different contaminant groups on beluga and the factors influencing these risks Critical Unknown
  • Information provided at the time of this review did not allow determination whether the measure was implemented or not
Develop new regulations or fully apply existing regulations to control the discharge of toxic pollutants into the environment,
especially new contaminants		 Improve Canadian and Quebec regulations to reduce toxic chemical discharges into the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence Basin, particularly by reviewing or setting toxicity thresholds for pollutants Critical ECCC Partially Completed
  • Under the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2012, the manufacture, use and import of many contaminants including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) (added in 2016), perflurooctane sulfonate (added in 2016), short-chained chlorinated alkanes (added in 2013), tributyltins (added in 2012), mirex (added in 1996), and DDT (added in 2005), as well as other types of organobromine compounds and perfluorinated compounds are prohibited in Canada.
  • the Government of Canada's PCB Regulations, implemented in 2008, set specific deadlines for ending the use of PCBs
  • For dioxins and furans, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), mercury, lead and cadmium, the Government of Canada has put in place a number of measures both before and after SARA listing (and strategies such as the 2010 Risk Management Strategy for Mercury, and the 2013 Risk Management Strategy for Lead)  aimed at reducing emissions, releases and/or exposure of these contaminants. The information available at the time of this review did not allow the identification of the specific measures.
  • Internationally the Government of Canada has been working with other countries to minimize exposure to these contaminants from foreign sources. This includes work under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants which aims to prohibit many of the contaminants outlined in Appendix 2 of the Recovery Strategy, as well as work under the Minimata Convention on Mercury which aims to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury through obligations to control anthropogenic releases of mercury throughout its lifecycle
  • The Government of Canada is also taking action on other types of organobromine compounds and perfluorinated compounds notlisted in Appendix 2 of the SLE beluga Recovery Strategy. These include prohibition on the manufacture, use and import of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), on perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (LC-PFCAs) via their addition to the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2012 in 2016.
  • Toxicity thresholds were established for PCB, mercury (Hg), MeHg, and cadmium (Desforges et al. 2016)
Develop mechanisms to monitor the impacts of regulation Critical DFO, Academia, ECCC, Health Canada (HC) Partially Completed
  • Time-series exist (since 1983) to document change in some regulated chemicals in SLE beluga (Lebeuf et al. 2014; Simond et al. in press)
  • Monitoring the incidence of cancers in beluga since 1983 (Lair et al. 2016) has allowed documenting positive impacts of regulation on the health of the beluga population
  • Ambient environmental monitoring for a number of the contaminants of concern to the Beluga has been and continues to be undertaken which could support performance measurement of the regulation(s). However, information available at the time of this review did not allow determination of how impacts of regulations are currently monitored for biological components of the ecosystem other than beluga.
  • ECCC and HC have developed substance based performance measurement and assessment plans for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), mercury, lead and bisphenol A which evaluate the effectiveness of risk management measures in meeting environmental objectives.
Reduce the number and scope of accidental and illegal discharges of pollutants Critical ECCC Partially completed
  • The Deposit Out of the Normal Course of Events Notification Regulations (2011) under the Fisheries Act were finalized to identify the 24-hour emergency telephone service to notify of releases of pollution
  • Since 2015, The Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations (WSER) under the Fisheries Act, addresses the largest point source of pollution in Canadian waters. The WSER set national baseline effluent quality standards achievable through secondary treatment. Owners and operators of wastewater systems are required to meet these standards by the end of 2040.
Reduce emissions and discharges of all types of pollutants at the source Reduce discharges of pollutants from waste storage sites, landfills, sewage (wastewater) treatment plants, industries, etc. Critical ECCC, provinces, municipalities Partially completed
  • Since 2015, the WSER requires minimum regulatory effluent quality standards achievable through secondary wastewater treatment. This level of treatment removes over 95% of the total mass of conventional pollutants in wastewater (i.e. carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demanding matter, suspended solids and nutrients). Significant amounts of non-conventional pollutants and bacteria that may be present are also removed through such treatment.
  • As a result of implementation of the WSER, all regulated wastewater effluent will be treated to a minimum level of secondary by the end of 2040, including in provinces and territories where equivalency agreements are in place.
Monitor contaminant sources and
concentrations in the tissues of beluga and
their key prey species		 Identify the main sources of contamination, and determine how contaminants spread through the beluga population and its environment, and how beluga and their prey get exposed to different contaminant groups Necessary DFO Partially Completed
  • A review of current knowledge was produced as part of the Recovery Strategy (DFO 2012)
Study the movement and spread of contaminants in the tissues of beluga, key prey species, and sentinel species, particularly emerging contaminants, and publish results. Necessary Unknown
  • Information provided at the time of this review did not allow determination of whether the recovery measure was implemented or not
Continue cleanup of contaminated terrestrial
and aquatic sites in the Great Lakes–
St. Lawrence Basin		 Identify priority contaminated sites and use environment-friendly decontamination techniques to clean up identified sites Necessary ECCC, DFO Partially completed
  • Priority sites were identified prior to SARA listing, after the first Recovery Strategy was produced in 1995 (Multipartite Committee on Contaminated Sites of Concern for the St. Lawrence beluga 1998)
  • Contaminated sediment management strategies are completed for a number of Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs), including the Niagara River, Bay of Quinte and St. Lawrence River (Cornwall). The Randle Reef Sediment Remediation Project is currently underway to clean up Randle Reef in the Hamilton Harbour AOC, which is the largest and most severely contaminated sediment site on the Canadian side of the Great Lakes.
Continue coordinating pollution reduction
efforts, in collaboration with the International
Joint Commission.		 Initiate actions with Quebec, Ontario, and the United States to coordinate efforts to reduce pollution in the Great Lakes and the entire St. Lawrence River basin Necessary ECCC Completed but ongoing
  • Pursuant to the 2012 Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, and the 2014 Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health, Environment and Climate Change Canada works with the Province of Ontario and local communities to address the cleanup of contaminated sites in the Great Lakes basin known as Great Lakes Areas of Concern.
  • Under the Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA), eight Chemicals of Mutual Concern (CMCs) have been designated and binational strategies are being developed to reduce the release and impact of these CMCs. Additional CMCs will be assessed in the future and binational strategies for those subsequently designated CMCs will be prepared.
  • Under the 2014 Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health, ten chemicals of concern (which includes the current eight CMCs designated under the GLWQA have been identified to reduce or eliminate their use and release within and into the Great Lakes basin.

Objective 2. Reduce anthropogenic disturbances

Broad Strategy Recovery Measures Priority Achievement contributors Status of recovery measure Achievements since SARA listing (2005)
Determine the short- and long-term effects of chronic and acute forms of disturbance Carry out impact studies of disturbances created by marine traffic, whale-watching activities, aircraft, and development projects in- and off-shore in areas used by beluga Critical DFO, Academia Partially completed
  • Volume of traffic from various types of vessels operating at specific sites or within the limits of the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park (SSLMP) (Chion et al. 2009) and co-occurrence with beluga were characterized (Chion and Ménard 2013). However, impacts on beluga were not examined
  • There is an apparent increase in volume of whale-watching trips specifically targeting beluga in recent years (Martins 2016)
  • Effects on beluga habitat use were examined for a seismic survey conducted in the Cacouna/Rivière-du-Loup area
Based on disturbance impact studies, determine management measures to reduce disturbance Critical Parks Canada (PC), DFO Partially Completed
  • A series of management measures to reduce disturbance, such as speed reduction, area closure, have been put forward in the context of the Marine Activities in the SSLMP Regulations; management measures such as time/area closures, noise-reduction technologies, shut-downs of operation when beluga are present, are also included in marine development projects (MDP) as a necessary step for approval of the MDP by DFO
Study the impacts of noise pollution on
beluga 		Identify main noise sources at the various frequencies, monitor beluga exposure, and study the impacts of noise on the beluga's health and behaviour Critical DFO, Academia Partially Completed
  • Source level characterized for 255 merchant ships transiting through the SLE (Simard et al. 2016)
  • Traffic density (on a daily, monthly, and yearly basis) mapped for the SLE and other areas in eastern Canada, both globally and selectively for seven vessel types, five vessel length classes, and five sailing speed classes (Simard et al. 2014)
  • Beluga exposure to noise varies depending on areas, and is highest near the shipping lane and at the Saguenay River mouth, and lowest in south-shore habitats (Simard et al. 2010; McQuinn et al. 2011; Gervaise et al. 2012; Roy and Simard 2015)
  • Commercial traffic exposes many times daily a substantial proportion (15-53%) of the SLE beluga population, of which the vast majority (72-81%) are females with calves or juveniles, to noise levels that may induce negative behavioural responses. Merchant ships transiting via the South Channel would expose more beluga and more of its habitat to noise, and contribute to acoustic degradation of habitat currently lightly exposed to shipping noise (Lesage et al. 2014a)
  • Ferry operations at the mouth of the Saguenay fjord affect the echolocation and communication frequency band of SLE beluga. Half of the time, the acoustic space of SLE beluga is reduced to 30% of its expected value under natural conditions (Gervaise et al. 2012)
  • Anthropogenic noise reduces the window of time during, or the area over, which beluga can forage effectively for food. Management measures contributing to reduced noise levels should help slow down the decline of beluga by increasing foraging efficiency (Williams et al. in press)
Based on noise impact studies, determine management measures to reduce noise pollution Critical DFO, PC Partially Completed
  • Based on results from Lesage et al. (2014a), it was recommended that merchant ships transit preferentially along the north shore of the SLE to minimize disturbance and noise exposure of beluga and their habitat. This measure was implemented in 2014; the proportion of ships transiting along the south shore was low (around 5% annually), but remains stable since 2014; actions are underway via the Working Group on Marine Traffic and Protection of Marine Mammals in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (G2T3M) to further reduce traffic in this area
  • Simulations where merchant ships reduce their transit speed were conducted to determine the effectiveness of this measure at reducing beluga instantaneous and cumulative exposure to noise (Chion et al. 2017)
Reduce anthropogenic disturbances in high-use areas Reduce anthropogenic noise in the St. Lawrence Estuary (construction, navigation, gas exploration, etc.) Critical DFO, PC Partially Completed
  • Prohibition by the Quebec Government of any activity related to oil and gas exploration or exploitation, or mining in the northwestern Gulf of St. Lawrence west of the western tip of Anticosti Island and in the SLE, including islands (Québec 2011, reaffirmed in 2014)
  • Systematic consideration of noise mitigation strategy and monitoring for marine development projects proposed in, or likely to destroy, SLE beluga critical habitat, and likely to produce excessive noise
  • Incorporation of quieting technology to the docks (e.g., rubber under access slips) at the mouth of the Saguenay River
  • The dock in Baie-Sainte-Catherine is managed by Parcs Canada, which has contributed to limiting traffic in part of the mouth of the Saguenay Fjord
  • Voluntary measures to reduce merchant ship speed have been implemented in a sector of the shipping lane near the Saguenay Fjord mouth; these measures were intended for mitigating collision risk with baleen whales, but to a certain extent contributed to a reduced noise footprint of ships in beluga habitat (https://inter-l01-uat.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/infoceans/en/infocean/preliminary-results-2019-commercial-fisheries-season-quebec)
  • The implementation of mitigation measures reducing noise output or beluga exposure to noise (e.g., time/area closures, operation shut downs in presence of beluga, bubble curtains) are required by DFO for projects likely to affect SLE beluga or their habitat
Implement protection measures in problematic marine traffic corridors Critical DFO, PC Partially Completed
  • Implementation of a voluntary measure, where ships are asked to avoid using the South Channel and the Rivière-du-Loup/Cacouna area when transiting through the SLE, so to minimize noise inputs in important habitats for females and calves (G2T3M). This measure has made pilots aware of the beluga-noise issue and has likely contributed to maintain traffic in this area to a low level (around 5% annually; SSLMP, unpublished data). There has been no decrease of traffic since implementation of the measure and efforts are currently underway via the G2T3M to further reduce the traffic in this area
  • Under the Marine Activities in the SSLMP Regulations, a limit is imposed on the number of whale-watching licenses (not trips per licence) for operation in the SSLMP
  • Since Jan. 2017, the Marine Activities in the SSLMP Regulations have also imposed a speed limit for tour boats (max of 20 knots) and pleasure boats (15 knots) when passing through the mouth of the Saguenay River.
Reduce the number of incidents (e.g., direct approaches, harassment). Critical DFO, PC Partially Completed
  • Prohibited under the SSLMP Regulations to actively approach SLE beluga at distances closer than 400 m, to fly an aircraft at an altitude lower than 2000 feet, or to cruise at a speed higher than 25 knots within the limits of the SSLMP
  • It is also prohibited (under license conditions) for tour boat operators and research vessels to enter Baie Sainte-Marguerite; avoidance of this sector is currently on a voluntary basis for other users of the SSLMP
  • Prohibition under the revised SSLMP Regulations (Jan 2017) of jet skis, hovercraft, and towed water sports within the limits of the SSLMP
  • A code of practice for eco-friendly observations of marine mammals has been put in place by members of the Éco-Baleine Alliance (http://www.eco-baleine.ca/pdf/Fiche_Guide_Fr.pdf)
Develop best practice guidelines for when beluga are unexpectedly encountered Critical DFO, PC Completed
Protect beluga against anthropogenic
disturbances throughout their entire
distribution area.		 Review, adopt, and enforce the Marine Mammals Regulations as well as the Marine Activities in the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park Regulations to
better protect beluga from disturbance, particularly by enforcing a 400 m "no boat"
zone around beluga throughout the area		 Necessary DFO, PC Partially Completed
  • DFO's intent to modify the Marine Mammal Regulations has been announced in the Canada Gazette I, in 2012 (http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2012/2012-03-24/html/reg2-fra.html); once in place, the revised regulations would include provisions for a 400 m limit to approaches of whales, dolphins and porpoises that are considered threatened or endangered under the Species at Risk Act, in a zone contiguous to the SSLMP. Finalization of the revised regulations is pending the Minister's final approval and posting in Canada Gazette II
  • The Marine Activities in the SSLMP Regulations were reviewed (Jan 2017); they maintain the 400 m no-boat zone around beluga, and incorporate new elements to better protect beluga, including 1) prohibition of jet skis, hovercraft, and towed water sports within the limits of the SSLMP, and 2) reduction of boat speed at the mouth of the Saguenay River
  • Enforcement of the SSLMP Regulations is made by three officers; information on the number of patrols or infractions are not available
  • Enforcement patrols in the waters adjacent to the SSLMP have been initiated by DFO in 2015, and have been conducted jointly with the SSLMP officials. While their number has remained low up until now, there are intentions to pursue these patrols, and increase their frequency
Improve whale-watching monitoring patrols during the tourist season in the SSLMP and elsewhere in the Estuary Necessary DFO, PC Partially Completed
  • In addition to the regular enforcement patrols in the SSLMP, since 2010 there have been regular awareness campaigns conducted within the limits of the Park
  • Joint patrols of DFO fishery officers and SSLMP officials were conducted over a period of 5 days in 2016 during the tourist high season in July and August, and will be pursued in the future
Implement the education strategy for species at risk developed by the SSLMP and extend it to cover the entire beluga distribution range. Identify target groups for awareness campaigns, and develop and implement a
communications strategy		 Necessary DFO, PC Completed but ongoing
  • Profiles of users (sail boats, motor crafts, recreational fishers, seadoos, and kayakers) developed by the SSLMP authorities have been used since 2015 to adapt communication strategies and tools to the targeted clients. These tools were distributed during the 2016 tourist season in the context of an awareness campaign about beluga disturbance through various forums (annual general meetings, marina, nautical events, etc.)
Improve training for captains, kayaking guides, and nature guides in order to reduce disturbances, and make training mandatory Necessary DFO, PC Completed but ongoing
  • Since Jan. 2017, the Marine Activities in the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park Regulations formally prescribe the implementation of a certification system for tour boat operators and sea kayak guides, which require attendance to a mandatory training session about the marine park and the new regulations, and completion of an annual knowledge exam in order to receive certification
Publicize conservation actions and provide educational activities to local residents. Necessary DFO, PC Completed but ongoing
  • Establishment of interpretation centers, information tools, and special presentations for visitors of the SSLMP
  • Presence of specially-formed interpretation guides at sites where beluga can be observed within the SSLMP
  • In collaboration with the Ministère de l'Éducation du Québec, participation of the SSLMP in a school program to enhance awareness about the environment and the St. Lawrence via the special case of SLE beluga
  • Since 2015, a summer awareness campaign about beluga disturbance has been conducted with recreational boaters from the SLE south shore (https://inter-l01-uat.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/infoceans/en/infocean/preliminary-results-2019-commercial-fisheries-season-quebec); SSLMP authorities conduct similar activities in communities from the north shore
  • SSLMP representatives are present during nautical festivals and on social networks to raise awareness
Set up a recognition program for sea excursion companies that adopt best practices Necessary PC, DFO Completed but ongoing
  • Creation of the Eco-Whale Alliance (2010)
Define specific best practice guidelines for each type of user navigating the St. Lawrence Estuary Necessary DFO, PC Completed
  • Best practice guidelines for tour boats and pleasure craft users operating within the limits of the SSLMP are implemented under the Marine Activities in the SSMPL Regulations (reviewed in Jan 2017)
  • Similar guidelines have been developed for recreational boaters, and have been publicized since 2015 through awareness campaigns in marinas and communities located along the SLE south shore
Improve the decision-making process for
granting research permits and permits for other activities requiring approaches within 400 m.		 Establish the rules and a decision-making committee, and set up a single-window system, in collaboration with all the responsible authorities, to evaluate the relevance, methods, and issuance of permits for projects involving beluga or their critical habitat Necessary DFO, PC Partially Completed
  • Permit issuance for activities conducted within the limits of the SSLMP is considered only once permits have been obtained from DFO
  • Permit issuance by DFO is coordinated among the Resource management, Fisheries protection, and Species at Risk programs, in consultation with the Science sector when needed. However, there is currently no system to assess cumulative effects that these activities might have on beluga

Objective 3. Ensure adequate and accessible food supplies

Broad Strategy Recovery Measures Priority Achievement contributors Status of recovery measure Achievements since SARA listing (2005)
Protect spawning and rearing sites and migration corridors of key prey species Strengthen measures to protect important sites for key prey species Critical DFO, Provincial Gov. Partially Completed
  • Systematic consideration of potential impacts and mitigation strategy for marine development projects proposed in, or likely to affect beluga key prey species and thus, that might lead to destruction of SLE beluga critical habitat
  • A protection plan for smelt spawning sites in the Saguenay fjord was proposed in 2010 (Comité ZIP Saguenay, 2010); the Quebec Government was approached in 2015 to support the creation of an aquatic reserve to protect this resource. The outcome of this initiative was not known at the time this review was completed
  • The Fisheries Act includes prohibition against carrying out of any work, undertaking or activity that results in serious harm to fish that are a part of or support a commercial, recreational or Aboriginal fishery. These prohibitions cover the SLE beluga's preys
Prohibit trawl nets from the Upper St. Lawrence Estuary and the Saguenay River Critical DFO, PC, Provincial Gov. Partially Completed
  • Commercial fisheries are prohibited in the Saguenay River, within the limit of the SSLMP
  • Trawl net fishery is prohibited in the Saguenay River under the 'Règlement des pêches de l'Atlantique', Appendix XXXI, alinea 7
  • In the Upper Estuary, there exists an informal agreement between DFO and the shrimp fishermen to not conduct trawl fishing
Maintain the moratorium on forage species Critical DFO Not Completed
  • In the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the absence of fishing on some forage species helped mitigate the threat of inadequate food supplies to some extent, since it prevented fisheries for some forage species that the beluga either prey upon (e.g., sandlance), or that the beluga's prey depend on (e.g., krill and copepods).
  • However, capelin and herring are considered forage species for Beluga, and fisheries targeting these two species are conducted in the St. Lawrence
  • In 2009, a new policy 'New Fisheries for Forage Species' was introduced (http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/reports-rapports/regs/sff-cpd/forage-fra.htm). Under this new policy, a fishery can be allowed to proceed if it can be demonstrated, in a reasonable manner, that the fishery will not jeopardize the ecological role of the species or ecosystem functioning by reducing abundance. There is currently no fishery for Beluga's forage species other than herring and capelin
Continue research on the diet and feeding habits of beluga Study diet habits and feeding strategies Necessary DFO, Academia Partially Completed
  • Diet estimates were obtained using prey remains in stomach and intestine (Lesage
  •  2014), as well as using indirect dietary methods based on chemical tracers such as stable isotopes (Lesage 2014), fatty acids (Nozères 2006), and contaminant levels (Lebeuf in Savenkoff et al. 2017)
Study prey availability and factors that influence their quantity and quality Necessary DFO, Academia Partially Completed
  • Ecosystem studies examining climate factors, abundance and quality of beluga prey, and their relationship with beluga calf mortality were conducted (Plourde et al. 2014; Williams et al. in press)
  • A study examining capelin spawning and larvae abundance determined a unit of the GSL capelin population use the SLE and is composed of individuals that are retained in this area following hatching (Ouellet et al. 2013)
  • Capelin and smelt recruitment depends on the production and retention of larvae in the Saguenay fjord whereas redfish and cod species depend on juvenile immigration from the SLE (Sirois et al. 2009)
Based on studies of prey availability, determine management measures to protect the beluga's food resources Necessary DFO, PC, Provincial Gov. Partially Completed
  • Given their apparent importance for beluga and their potential role in the current decline, it was recommended that groundfish stocks as well as 4T spring herring be protected in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (DFO 2014)
  • Maximum length for a tuck seine to fish for capelin is fixed at 80 fathoms, so to reduce fishery efficiency and thus, impact on capelin stocks
  • Herring exploitation is managed under a Conservation fishing plan for 2016-2017 (https://inter-l01.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/applications/opti-opei/notice-avis-detail-fra.php?pub_id=871&todo=view&type=1&region_id=4
    &sub_type_id=5&species=200&area=1915    )
  • The Atlantic Fishery Regulations set a minimum length for captures to protect juvenile herring
  • The fishery directed toward the Atlantic cod stock that feeds prey into the SLE (i.e., the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence cod stock) has been under moratorium since 2009 to allow population recovery; a 300 bycatch is allowed (DFO 2016a)
Prevent new fisheries with the potential to
significantly impact beluga and their prey		 Consider the beluga's food requirements when assessing new fisheries Beneficial DFO Not yet initiated
  • Technically, the Policy for New Fisheries of Forage Species requires that beluga food requirements be taken into account when assessing new fisheries ((http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/reports-rapports/regs/sff-cpd/forage-fra.htm).
  • There is no such measure for fisheries targeting non-forage species.
  • New fisheries authorized by DFO since SARA-listing in 2005 do not concern beluga potential prey

Objective 4. Mitigate the effects of other threats to population recovery

Broad Strategy Recovery Measures Priority Achievement contributors Status of recovery measure Achievements since SARA listing (2005)
Develop and implement adequate protective measures for all inshore and offshore projects that could have an impact within the beluga distribution area Include protective measures in inshore and offshore projects Critical DFO, Provincial Gov. Completed but ongoing
  • Other habitat degradation resulting from inshore and offshore development (e.g., dredging and construction, seismic surveys, hydroelectric dams) is limited by the systematic scrutiny of these projects by DFO for potential impacts on beluga critical habitat; which includes the physical and acoustic environment, and beluga prey. Mitigation measures have to be applied when available and efficient (e.g., DFO 2007; 2011a; 2011b; 2014; 2016b)
Conduct an environmental impact assessment for all oil and gas exploration and
development projects in the Gulf of St. Lawrence		 Critical National Energy Board (NEB), DFO, CLNOPB, ECCC Completed but ongoing
  • Potential impacts from marine development projects, oil and gas exploration and exploitation, are prevented or mitigated through systematic scrutiny by DFO; DFO Science regularly is requested to participate to impact assessments of marine development projects in the SLE and Gulf of St. Lawrence. For instance, DFO Science has contributed to impact assessment of oil and gas specific projects in different areas (e.g., Old Harry, Cabot Strait, Sidney Bight, western Newfoundland, western Gulf) and to several other smaller-scale projects (e.g., DFO 2007; 2011a; 2011b; 2014; 2016b)
Maintain and improve the carcass monitoring program, with a focus on determining causes of death Improve the reliability and accessibility of the carcass monitoring program database (since 1983) and improve data processing and integration methods Critical DFO, RQUMM, Academia Partially Completed
  • The beluga carcass monitoring program has been in place since 1982, and fully implemented since 1983; it is currently maintained via the financial support from DFO, and collaboration from various institutions (e.g., academia, aquaria and federal departments and agencies)
  • DFO remains the curator of the central database, which has been rebuilt and standardized in 2012
  • Following the increase in mortality events of calves in 2012, calves are now systematically subjected to a full necropsy regardless of the preservation condition of carcasses (unless they are mummified)
Regularly publish results Critical DFO, Academia Completed but ongoing
  • A summary of causes of deaths for beluga necropsied between 1983 and 2012, and mortality patterns based on results from the program, were recently published (Lesage et al. 2014; Lair et al. 2016)
Based on studies of causes of death, determine management measures to reduce sources of mortality Critical DFO, ECCC, PC Partially Completed
  • Recommendations, based on causes of mortality, were made in the context of the DFO beluga status review (DFO 2014). In the short term, efforts can be directed to reducing anthropogenic stressors such as disturbance in sensitive areas and critical periods for females and calves, chemical contamination, high nutrient inputs, habitat loss, and competition for food resources from fisheries
Prepare emergency plans for beluga in case of spills, harmful algal blooms, and epizootic diseases Prepare or update emergency plans for the St. Lawrence Estuary Underway DFO, ECCC Partially Completed
  • An emergency plan in case of accidental spill of toxic chemic substances is in place for the SLE, The Emergency Plan for at-sea spillage – Regional Chapter explains in general terms how the Canadian Coast Guard Environmental Response Group will proceed in case of a spill. This plan is not specific to SLE beluga
Reduce the impact of vessel strikes and
entanglement in fishing gear		 Develop tools to detect and prevent strikes and entanglements Necessary DFO, PC Partially Completed
  • Vessel speed limited to 25 knots in the SSLMP, and seasonally (1 May to 31 October) to 20 knots (tour boats) and 15 knots (pleasure boats) for the Saguenay River mouth, under the Marine Activities in the SSLMP Regulations
  • Prohibition of jet skis, hovercraft, and towed water sports within the limits of the SSLMP
  • Code of practice when in presence of beluga are incorporated in the SSLMP Regulations and in the SSLMP and DFO communication tools, and aim partly at reducing collision risks
Ensure the continued operation of the Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network Necessary DFO, RQUMM Completed but ongoing
  • The Network has been in place since 2004, and receives continued financial support by DFO and other partners, and logistical support by various institutions (e.g., academia, aquaria and federal departments and agencies)
Ensure monitoring of incidents involving beluga (collisions, wounds, incidental catches, harassment) Necessary DFO, PC Completed but ongoing
  • Under the SSLMP licensing conditions, it is mandatory for tour boat operators and fishermen to report collisions or incidental catch of beluga
  • The beluga carcass monitoring program allows detection of some of these cases
  • An awareness campaign conducted annually since 2015 in communities of the SLE south shore increases the probability of detection of these events (https://inter-l01-uat.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/infoceans/en/infocean/preliminary-results-2019-commercial-fisheries-season-quebec)
Inform and raise awareness of navigators (all boat types) on the regulations and the impacts of pollutant discharges Carry out an awareness and education campaign on the regulations on pollutant
discharges 		Beneficial Unknown
  • Information provided at the time of this review did not allow determination of whether the recovery measure was implemented or not
Monitor the number of incidents (toxic spills) Beneficial Unknown
  • Information provided at the time of this review did not allow determination of whether the recovery measure was implemented or not
Detect and prevent spills, algal blooms, and epizootic diseases Develop tools to detect and prevent spills, algal blooms, and epizootic diseases Beneficial ECCC, DFO Partially Completed
  • Monitoring program for toxic algal blooms was reduced in 2009, but maintained for the Tadoussac dock and for 4 to 5 other stations in the St. Lawrence. However, sample analysis is now done on an opportunistic basis, according to budgetary surpluses, and thus would not allow detecting harmful blooms in a timely manner
  • There is currently an informal agreement among members of the Marine Mammal Emergency Response Network to not proceed with the reintroduction of rehabilitated marine mammals held in captivity
Reduce ship strikes, in particular with tourist vessels and pleasure craft Carry out awareness campaigns targeting captains of tourist vessels and pleasure craft Beneficial DFO, PC Completed but ongoing
  • Since Jan. 2017, the Marine Activities in the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park Regulations formally prescribe the implementation of a certification system for tour boat operators and sea kayak guides, which require attendance to a mandatory training session about the marine park and the new regulations, and completion of an annual knowledge exam in order to receive certification
  • A summer awareness campaign focused on reducing disturbance of beluga and ways to navigate in their presence has been conducted with recreational boaters from the SLE south shore since 2015 (https://inter-l01-uat.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/infoceans/en/infocean/boaters-and-belugas-keep-your-distance)
Examine other potential obstacles to recovery If new threats are identified, initiate additional research and management strategies to reduce the impact Beneficial Completed and ongoing
  • No new threats identified

Objective 5. Protect beluga habitat in all its distribution range

Broad Strategy Recovery Measures Priority Achievement contributors Status of recovery measure Achievements since SARA listing (2005)
Increase our understanding of the seasonal distribution and potential habitats of beluga Identify beluga high-use areas according to season, including the characteristics that make them favourable to beluga and the vital functions they support, and identify potential new habitats should the distribution area expand as well as threats to these habitats Critical DFO, Academia, ENGOs Partially Completed
  • Fine-scale habitat use (e.g., relative to tides, time of day, season) of some important areas within the Critical Habitat (e.g., Cacouna/Ile Verte, mouth of the Saguenay Fjord) has been characterized (Conversano 2013; Roy and Simard 2015)
  • Summer high-use areas have been identified using long-term data from both aerial survey and beluga herd tracking (Mosnier et al. 2016; Lemieux Lefebvre et al. 2012)
  • A summary of current knowledge on beluga habitat was produced (Mosnier et al. 2010)
Protect beluga habitat using diverse legal tools Set up Marine Protected Areas in beluga territory, such as the SLE Marine Protected Area Project and the Manicouagan Aquatic Reserve Critical DFO, Provincial Gov. Partly Completed
Enact zoning regulations in the SSLMP to protect high-use areas Critical PC Partly completed
  • The new Marine Activities of the SSLMP Regulations include provisions to create temporary exclusion zones in specific areas, and limit access to sensitive areas by tour boats
  • Access to some important habitat of beluga in the SSLMP (e.g., Baie Ste-Marguerite) is limited through license permitting conditions to tour boats, and awareness campaigns for recreational users
Study the feasibility of extending the boundaries of the SSLMP, in accordance with the management plan of the marine park (PCA and MDDEP, 2010), to include a more significant portion of the beluga' summering area Critical PC Partly completed
  • Discussions between SSLMP and MMFP have been initiated but nothing concrete to implement this measure has emerged so far

6. Ensure regular monitoring of the St. Lawrence Estuary beluga population

Broad Strategy Recovery Measures Priority Achievement contributors Status of recovery measure Achievements since SARA listing (2005)
Monitor the St. Lawrence beluga population Continue to conduct population surveys, at least every three years Critical DFO Completed but ongoing
  • Photographic aerial surveys have been conducted at least every three years since 1988 and up until 2003. Since SARA-listing, a single photographic survey was conducted (in 2009)
  • A time-series of visual aerial surveys, where multiple surveys can be conducted in a given year, was initiated in 2001. Surveys continue to be flown regularly since SARA-listing in 2005. A total of 36 surveys were flown so far (in 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2014; Gosselin et al. 2014; in press). Note: these two methods are not comparable, and visual surveys don't allow determination of the proportion of calves in the population, a key component of population monitoring
Monitor juvenile recruitment rates and causes of juvenile mortality Critical DFO, Academia Completed but ongoing
  • Indices of recruitment were obtained via the photographic aerial surveys (from 1988-2009: Gosselin et al. 2014), and long-term photo-identification surveys (from 1989-2012; Michaud 2014). These studies indicate that the proportion of calves and juveniles have decreased over time in the population
  • Necropsies are conducted on beluga found dead to determine cause of mortality but juveniles represent a small proportion of this sample (Lair et al. 2014). Verminous pneumonia was the primary cause of death in over 70% of non-calf juveniles
Continue the population monitoring program (distribution, size, structure,
dynamics, social organization, and genetics)		 Critical DFO, Academia, ENGOs Completed but ongoing
  • Aerial surveys to monitor population size and distribution are conducted regularly (summarized in Gosselin et al. 2014; Mosnier et al. 2016)
  • Population parameters and dynamics continue to be monitored via the carcass monitoring program and aerial surveys and have been recently summarized (Lesage et al. 2014b; Mosnier et al. 2016)
  • A sampling program has been in place for over 25 years to document the social organization and genetic structure of the population
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