Consultation check-in on 14 aquatic species under consideration for addition or reclassification to Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act
As the competent minister for aquatic species at risk, the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard provides advice to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change on whether or not to list aquatic species at risk under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). The Minister of Environment and Climate Change then makes a recommendation to the Governor in Council (GiC), who makes the decision on whether or not to add species to the List of Wildlife Species at Risk (Schedule 1) of SARA. Results from consultations are a key consideration in the development of the listing advice and recommendations to the GiC.
The 14 aquatic species listed below were assessed as at-risk by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) between 2009 and 2016. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) undertook consultations with Indigenous peoples, stakeholders, and other interested parties on the potential addition or reclassification of these species to Schedule 1 of SARA between 2010 and 2020. To ensure the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard takes into account current opinions in her listing advice, DFO is inviting interested parties to confirm their previous positions or offer additional information that the Minister might consider in finalizing her advice.
Species under consideration for addition to Schedule 1 of SARA
Basking Shark (Atlantic population)
- COSEWIC status (assessment date): Special Concern (2009)
- Occurrence: Atlantic Ocean
- Consultations conducted: 2010-2011
- COSEWIC status (assessment date): Special Concern (2009)
- Occurrence: Pacific Ocean
- Consultations conducted: 2011-2012
Smooth Skate (Laurentian-Scotian population)
- COSEWIC status (assessment date): Special Concern (2012)
- Occurrence: Atlantic Ocean
- Consultations conducted: 2015
Spiny Dogfish (Atlantic population)
- COSEWIC status (assessment date): Special Concern (2010)
- Occurrence: Atlantic Ocean
- Consultations conducted: 2010-2011
- COSEWIC status (assessment date): Special Concern (2011)
- Occurrence: Pacific Ocean
- Consultations conducted: 2012-2013
- COSEWIC status (assessment date): Special Concern (2012)
- Occurrence: Atlantic Ocean
- Consultations conducted: 2015
Little Quarry Lake Benthic Threespine Stickleback
- COSEWIC status (assessment date): Threatened (2015)
- Occurrence: British Columbia
- Consultations conducted: 2018
Little Quarry Lake Limnetic Threespine Stickleback
- COSEWIC status (assessment date): Threatened (2015)
- Occurrence: British Columbia
- Consultations conducted: 2018
River Darter (Great Lakes – Upper St. Lawrence populations)
- COSEWIC status (assessment date): Endangered (2016)
- Occurrence: Ontario
- Consultations conducted: 2020
- COSEWIC status (assessment date): Endangered (2014)
- Occurrence: Atlantic Ocean
- Consultations conducted: 2018
Smooth Skate (Funk Island Deep population)
- COSEWIC status (assessment date): Endangered (2012)
- Occurrence: Atlantic Ocean
- Consultations conducted: 2015
Winter Skate (Eastern Scotian Shelf- Newfoundland population)
- COSEWIC status (assessment date): Endangered (2015)
- Occurrence: Atlantic Ocean
- Consultations conducted: 2019
Winter Skate (Gulf of St. Lawrence population)
- COSEWIC status (assessment date): Endangered (2015)
- Occurrence: Atlantic Ocean
- Consultations conducted: 2019
Warmouth (Reclassification – currently listed as Special Concern on Schedule 1)
- COSEWIC status (assessment date): Endangered (2015)
- Occurrence: Ontario
- Consultations conducted: 2020
Subject to any exceptions that may be granted under the Act, once a wildlife species is added to Schedule 1 of SARA:
- For species listed as threatened, endangered, or extirpated: general prohibitions automatically apply, making it an offence to kill, harm, harass, capture, take, collect, possess, buy, sell, or trade the species. It is also prohibited to damage or destroy their residences
- For species listed as special concern: general prohibitions do not apply
- For species listed as threatened, endangered, or extirpated, a recovery strategy and action plan must be developed, and critical habitat must be identified and protected
- For species listed as special concern, a management plan must be developed
This consultation check-in period is open for 60 days, ending on May 22, 2023. To participate, please submit comments by email to dfo.ncrsaralisting-inscriptionleprcn.mpo@dfo-mpo.gc.ca, or by mail to the following address. In your submission, please clearly identify which species your comments are referring to.
Director, Governance, Listing and Emerging Priorities
Species at Risk Program
Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
200 Kent St.
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0E6
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