Government of Canada / Gouvernement du Canada
Symbol of the Government of Canada

Search

List of Wildlife Species at Risk (referral back to COSEWIC) Order (SI/2013-28)

Regulations are current to 2024-03-06

List of Wildlife Species at Risk (referral back to COSEWIC) Order

SI/2013-28

SPECIES AT RISK ACT

Registration 2013-03-27

List of Wildlife Species at Risk (referral back to COSEWIC) Order

P.C. 2013-277 2013-03-07

His Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of the Environment, pursuant to subsections 27(1.1) and (1.2) of the Species at Risk ActFootnote a

  • (a) refers the assessment of the status of the Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) (North Pacific population) and the Eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus) (Nass River and Skeena River population) back to the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) for further consideration; and

  • (b) approves that the Minister of the Environment include in the public registry established under section 120 of that Act the statement that is attached as the annex to this Order and that sets out the reasons for the referral back to COSEWIC.

ANNEXStatement Setting Out the Reasons for Referring the Assessments of the Humpback Whale (North Pacific Population) and Eulachon (Nass River and Skeena River Population) Back to COSEWIC

  • Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) (North Pacific population)

    The Humpback Whale (North Pacific population) is currently listed as Threatened under the Species at Risk Act. The status of this population of the species was reassessed by COSEWIC as Special Concern in May 2011. The lower risk designation is a result of recent analyses that indicate an increasing trend in abundance. In the course of consultations carried out between November 2011 and January 2012, a number of concerns were raised with regard to the structure of the designatable unit in Canada. Some species experts expressed concerns that key data pertaining to the structure of the designatable unit was not considered by COSEWIC. In the view of these species experts, such data would justify the identification of two designatable units in Canada. While Fisheries and Oceans Canada (“DFO”) has not produced scientific advice on this matter, this species is referred back to COSEWIC for further consideration. DFO is committed to working with COSEWIC on this matter.

  • Eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus) (Nass River and Skeena River population)

    The Eulachon (Nass River and Skeena River population) was assessed by COSEWIC as Threatened in May 2011. This short-lived species reproduces just once in its lifetime, and is extremely rich in fats. It spends over 95% of its life in the marine environment. Recent data from the Nass River and Skeena River indicates that the Eulachon population is declining and the level of abundance in adjacent areas has declined substantially in recent years. COSEWIC has advised that, due to new information that was not available when it assessed the status of the Eulachon (Nass River and Skeena River population), this status now needs to be reassessed. In light of the need for consideration of new data, this population of the species is referred back to COSEWIC for further consideration.


Date modified: