05-12-2004, 04:10 AM
Three BC Salmon Species Targeted By DFO For Recovery
VANCOUVER - Fisheries and Oceans Minister Geoff Regan today announced the launch of a recovery planning process for three salmon populations, Interior Fraser Coho, Cultus Lake Sockeye and Sakinaw Lake Sockeye.
The three populations have been designated as endangered by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). These species have not yet been legally listed under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). However, in the event of a legal listing and given the complexity of salmon recovery, Fisheries and Oceans Canada has started the first phase of the recovery process by forming three locally-based teams to develop recovery strategies for each of the three salmon populations.
Recovery team members were selected by DFO, and include individuals with specific expertise and knowledge about salmon biology, threats to the listed salmon populations, or salmon recovery. Members have diverse backgrounds, and are drawn from First Nations, provincial and local governments, DFO staff, local community groups, academics, biologists, fishers, resource industries, agricultural specialists and water managers.
"These teams reflect the need to be inclusive by bringing together the technical expertise and local and traditional knowledge needed to develop science-based recovery strategies," said Minister Regan. "And the membership of a recovery team is dynamic. Members may be added if specific expertise is required and recovery implementation groups may be formed to address specific recovery activities."
Each of the DFO-led recovery teams is developing a recovery strategy for one of the three COSEWIC designated salmon species. Early in the process, DFO will provide formal opportunity for key regional stakeholders to provide their comments and perspectives on the draft recovery strategies and the potential socio-economic impacts of salmon recovery activities. This will be done through a specific workshop planned to take place in early 2004. As well, broad consultations will be organised at both local and regional levels to provide members of the public and First Nations communities an opportunity to share their views. Finally, recovery teams will also coordinate external peer reviews of the draft recovery strategies.
Recovery planning is a two part process. The first step is development of a recovery strategy that identifies the recovery goals, objectives and broad approaches to respond to known threats to the survival of the species. Once the recovery strategies are completed, the subsequent stage is the development of action plans for the implementation of the recovery strategies. The action plan includes a specific evaluation of the socio-economic costs and benefits of recommended actions. It is at this stage First Nations and stakeholders will be specifically involved in developing specific actions that reflect the broad options developed in the recovery strategies. DFO will also work with industry through the existing Integrated Fisheries Management planning process and other processes to ensure that fisheries are planned considering recovery of the three salmon populations. The recovery strategies and action plans will be provided as advice to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans on how to recover these species.
A webpage is currently being developed to provide information on the recovery planning process for Interior Fraser Coho, Cultus Lake Sockeye and Sakinaw Lake Sockeye including for example recovery team memberships and consultation information.
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/sara/salmon_e.htm
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Contact:
Carole Eros
Species at Risk Recovery Plan Coordinator
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Pacific Region
(604) 666-3610
Christiane Côté
Communications Advisor
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Pacific Region
(604) 666-8072
[signature]
VANCOUVER - Fisheries and Oceans Minister Geoff Regan today announced the launch of a recovery planning process for three salmon populations, Interior Fraser Coho, Cultus Lake Sockeye and Sakinaw Lake Sockeye.
The three populations have been designated as endangered by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). These species have not yet been legally listed under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). However, in the event of a legal listing and given the complexity of salmon recovery, Fisheries and Oceans Canada has started the first phase of the recovery process by forming three locally-based teams to develop recovery strategies for each of the three salmon populations.
Recovery team members were selected by DFO, and include individuals with specific expertise and knowledge about salmon biology, threats to the listed salmon populations, or salmon recovery. Members have diverse backgrounds, and are drawn from First Nations, provincial and local governments, DFO staff, local community groups, academics, biologists, fishers, resource industries, agricultural specialists and water managers.
"These teams reflect the need to be inclusive by bringing together the technical expertise and local and traditional knowledge needed to develop science-based recovery strategies," said Minister Regan. "And the membership of a recovery team is dynamic. Members may be added if specific expertise is required and recovery implementation groups may be formed to address specific recovery activities."
Each of the DFO-led recovery teams is developing a recovery strategy for one of the three COSEWIC designated salmon species. Early in the process, DFO will provide formal opportunity for key regional stakeholders to provide their comments and perspectives on the draft recovery strategies and the potential socio-economic impacts of salmon recovery activities. This will be done through a specific workshop planned to take place in early 2004. As well, broad consultations will be organised at both local and regional levels to provide members of the public and First Nations communities an opportunity to share their views. Finally, recovery teams will also coordinate external peer reviews of the draft recovery strategies.
Recovery planning is a two part process. The first step is development of a recovery strategy that identifies the recovery goals, objectives and broad approaches to respond to known threats to the survival of the species. Once the recovery strategies are completed, the subsequent stage is the development of action plans for the implementation of the recovery strategies. The action plan includes a specific evaluation of the socio-economic costs and benefits of recommended actions. It is at this stage First Nations and stakeholders will be specifically involved in developing specific actions that reflect the broad options developed in the recovery strategies. DFO will also work with industry through the existing Integrated Fisheries Management planning process and other processes to ensure that fisheries are planned considering recovery of the three salmon populations. The recovery strategies and action plans will be provided as advice to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans on how to recover these species.
A webpage is currently being developed to provide information on the recovery planning process for Interior Fraser Coho, Cultus Lake Sockeye and Sakinaw Lake Sockeye including for example recovery team memberships and consultation information.
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/sara/salmon_e.htm
-30-
Contact:
Carole Eros
Species at Risk Recovery Plan Coordinator
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Pacific Region
(604) 666-3610
Christiane Côté
Communications Advisor
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Pacific Region
(604) 666-8072
[signature]