Thompson and Chilcotin Steelhead Trout: consultation on the potential emergency listing under the Species at Risk Act
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Information summary and surveys for the consultations on potentially adding Thompson & Chilcotin Steelhead Trout to the List of Wildlife Species at Risk as Endangered – Please provide input by December 2, 2018.
Consultations: let your opinion be heard
Canada’s Species at Risk Act (SARA) provides legal protection for wildlife species at risk to conserve biological diversity. It also acknowledges all Canadians have a role in the conservation of wildlife species.
To help the Governor in Council decide whether Thompson & Chilcotin Steelhead Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) will be added to the SARA List of Wildlife Species at Risk as Endangered, we would like to hear your opinion, comments, and suggestions regarding the possible ecological, cultural, social and economic impacts of listing one or both of these populations under SARA.
Adding a species to the list of wildlife Species at Risk on an emergency basis
The process of listing a species on an emergency basis under SARA differs in several ways from the regular process.
Any person who considers there is an imminent threat to the survival of a wildlife species may apply to the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) for an assessment of the threat for the purpose of having the species listed as Endangered on an emergency basis.
A finding of Endangered status requires the Minister of Environment and Climate Change to form an opinion as to whether there is an imminent threat to the survival of these populations. If her opinion is that an imminent threat exists, the Governor in Council must decide whether or not to list the populations under SARA. If the Minister considers there is no imminent threat, the emergency listing process ceases.
Facts about Thompson and Chilcotin Steelhead Trout
Steelhead Trout is the anadromous form (migrating from marine to freshwater environments) of Rainbow Trout. Individuals spending less time in freshwater appear similar to Pacific Salmon, having dark blue backs with spots and silver sides. The longer time spent in freshwater, the more a Steelhead looks like a Rainbow Trout: bright silver with orange and pink tints amongst its scales. Adult Steelhead range from 50 to 85 centimetres in length.
Some Steelhead individuals (known as kelts) can spawn repeatedly during their lifespan. Eggs are deposited in clean gravel located in fast-flowing riffle habitat. Juveniles (alevin and fry) spend time in their natal tributary stream and potentially in the Thompson or Chilcotin River mainstems before entering the marine environment as smolts. Suitable habitats depend on prey availability as well as water quality conditions such as dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, and salinity.
Thompson Steelhead Trout are known to spawn in the Nicola, Coldwater, Deadman, and Bonaparte rivers, and Spius Creek whereas Chilcotin Steelhead are known to spawn in the Chilko, Taseko, and Little Chilcotin rivers.
Who assigned the Endangered status to Thompson and Chilcotin Steelhead Trout
COSEWIC designated Thompson and Chilcotin Steelhead Trout as Endangered in a January 2018 emergency assessment. Under SARA, an Endangered species is defined as one that is facing imminent extirpation or extinction.
COSEWIC is an independent committee of experts that assesses whether individual species are in some danger of disappearing from Canada. It conducts its assessments based on the best available information including scientific data, local ecological knowledge, and Indigenous Knowledge.
Why are Thompson and Chilcotin Steelhead Trout at risk
Thompson & Chilcotin Steelhead Trout face a number of threats, including declining habitat quality both in marine and freshwater environments, and bycatch mortality from fisheries. These populations have declined dramatically over the last three generations, and are now the lowest on record. Recent surveys estimated that 177 Thompson Steelhead and 58 Chilcotin Steelhead will have spawned in the spring of 2018.
If a species is listed under the Species at Risk Act
If a species is listed as Endangered, the prohibitions of SARA would immediately come into effect in Canadian waters. It would be illegal to kill, harm, harass, capture, possess, buy, sell, or trade Thompson and Chilcotin Steelhead Trout, and to damage or destroy its residence (e.g. spawning redds).
However, an activity which may affect the species or its residence may be permitted under SARA section 73-74, or exempt under section 83, where that activity does not jeopardize the survival or recovery of the species.
A recovery strategy and subsequent action plan(s) would be developed to identify measures to address known threats. Critical habitat, the habitat necessary for the survival and recovery of Thompson and Chilcotin Steelhead Trout, would need to be identified, to the extent possible, in a recovery strategy or action plan and then protected from destruction.
We would like to receive your comments on the potential impacts of listing Thompson and Chilcotin Steelhead Trout under SARA designated as Endangered.
This will ultimately be used to inform the listing decisions for these populations in the event that there is an opinion of imminent threat, along with other supporting material such as the Management Scenarios.
We want to hear from you.
Related links
Before completing this survey, you may wish to review the following background information found at the links below:
- Chilcotin Steelhead Trout Profile
- Thompson Steelhead Trout Profile
- COSEWIC Technical summaries and supporting information for emergency assessments
- Management Scenarios Summary
- Cultural significance and the emergency listing process for Thompson and Chilcotin steelhead
- Species at Risk Public Registry
For more information
Species at Risk Program, Pacific Region
200-401 Burrard Street
Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3S4
SARA.XPAC@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Your comments are important.
Thank you for completing this survey.
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