COSEWIC Annual Report - May 2003
COSEWIC was given its mandate in 1976 by recommendation 6 of the 40th Federal-Provincial Wildlife Conference. In June, 1988, the Canadian Wildlife Directors directed COSEWIC to report to their Committee.
In March 1999 the Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council (CESCC) released new Terms of Reference for COSEWIC.
COSEWIC determines the status in Canada of wildlife species whose future may be in doubt and releases to the public the information upon which the designation of status is based.
The twenty-sixth annual report of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada is herein provided to you, the Canadian Wildlife Directors' Committee, for your review and comment.
The fall, 2002, meeting of COSEWIC took place at the Cartier Place Suite Hotel, Ottawa, Ontario, chaired by Dr. Marco Festa-Bianchet.
All members were in attendance. World Wildlife Fund Canada, Canadian Nature Federation and Canadian Wildlife Federation attended the meeting as continuing observers.
On November 25 during the afternoon a Workshop entitled "Approaches to Status Assignments Below the Species Level" took place. All members were in attendance as well as a number of observers. Several presentations were made by members and invited guest speakers.
On November 26 in the evening, a meeting took place between members of COSEWIC as well as some observers at the Species Assessment Meeting, Lynda Maltby, director of the Species at Risk Branch of the Canadian Wildlife Service and two representatives of the Canadian Wildlife Directors' Committee (CWDC), Bruce Morgan, British Columbia and Steve Bowcott, Ontario. Marco Festa-Bianchet, chair of COSEWIC, was invited to attend part of a meeting of the CWDC during the week of February 10, 2003 in Victoria, British Columbia, to address mutual concerns with the CWDC as well as other issues which arose during the course of the Species Assessment Meeting held that week.
On November 27 in the evening, members/observers attended an interesting and informative presentation by Steve Carr on the "Use of Molecular Genetics to Identify Taxonomic Units".
It was decided that following public calls for membership in Species Specialist Subcommittees (with the exception, of course, of co-chairs) renewals/new member selections will be recorded in the minutes of the Co-chairs Subcommittee meeting and that it was not necessary for these changes to be provided to the full committee.
Note: A reallocation of responsibilities for the Plants & Lichens Specialist Subcommittee was announced. Erich Haber will be responsible for all vascular plants and René Belland will not only handle mosses but will also be responsible for lichens.
The following committee members were recommended for approval for a four-year term effective January 1, 2003:
Species Specialist Subcommittee co-chairs
Following a public call for members and submission by the chairs of Selection Committees of top candidates where there were more than one applicant, the members voted either by e-mail or at the full committee meeting with the following results:
Marty Leonard is the new co-chair of the Birds Specialist Subcommittee.
Gerry Mackie, renewed as co-chair for Molluscs of the Lepidopterans & Molluscs Specialist Subcommittee
Ron Brooks, renewed as co-chair of the Amphibians & Reptiles Specialist Subcommittee.
Non-government Member
Steve Carr, renewed.
Jurisdictional Members
Juanita Ptolemy, new alternate from British Columbia.
Gilles Seutin (formerly alternate), now member from Parks Canada.
Earl Wiltse, (member from Saskatchewan) announced he will no longer be the member.
Irene Bowman announced that she will be retiring from Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, and as COSEWIC member from Ontario).
The above membership changes/renewals are herein submitted for your recommendation to the Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council (CESCC).
A schedule of renewal dates for jurisdictional members was circulated and Marco stated that this process needs to be clearly defined.
- Steve Brechtel, outgoing chair of the Organization & Procedures Manual Working Group attended to present this version. Marco thanked Steve for his hard work and dedication to this task. The members of the working group, Michael Bradstreet, Ron Brooks, Joe Brazil and Ruben Boles, were also thanked.
- Steve stated that the working group built on the work of many people, first Bob Campbell and then Theresa Fowler and for two and a half years tried to pull together existing practice, make improvements and put together a cohesive text.
- Steve recommended that a permanent subcommittee be set up with least one jurisdictional member, one co-chair and one non-government member and someone from the Secretariat as ex officio allowing the manual to continue to evolve without taking up too much time at future meetings.
- Michael Bradstreet was chosen as chair of the Organization & Procedures Manual Subcommittee which will include the following members: Ron Brooks, Jake Rice, Siu-Ling Han, Lynda Maltby and someone from the Secretariat as ex officio.
- The subcommittee was charged to begin working under its Terms of Reference to monitor operations and procedures of COSEWIC, identify opportunities to improve efficiency and/or compliance with appropriate guidelines and policies and propose changes as appropriate.
Some modifications to the Terms of Reference (ToR) were discussed and a further draft of the revised ToR was circulated after the meeting for review/comment by members.
a) Instructions to Authors Working Group (WG)
Gerry Mackie, chair, provided a revised draft for review along with eight motions which were approved. The WG will finish these Instructions for the spring, 2003 Species Assessment Meeting.
b) Intellectual Property (IP) WG
Ruben Boles gave a presentation on IP matters after which it was agreed that status reports will now undergo an additional step wherein the draft report will be revised by the report writer who will produce a "background report". A second contract will then be issued, possibly to the same individual who wrote the draft report, to produce the interim report.
c) Taxonomic Coverage within COSEWIC WG
Gerry Mackie, chair, provided a report following which it was recommended that a new Species Specialist Subcommittee (SC) be added to COSEWIC resulting from the separation of the current Lepidopterans and Molluscs SC into Molluscs as one separate SC and Lepidopterans being included in a new SC for Arthropods. This will create one additional vote and two additional co-chairs.
d) Guidelines for Data Deficient WG
Following discussion, David Green was charged to provide by e-mail appropriate wording for further review/comment.
a) Template for Technical Summary WG
David Green, chair and Gerry Mackie.
b) Habitat and Threats WG
Jake Rice, chair, Erich Haber, Gerry Mackie and Gina Schalk (Secretariat). It was suggested that this Working Group liaise with someone from the Recovery Secretariat as a succinct identification/reporting of threats is very important for recovery purposes. The Chair of COSEWIC and the Chair of RENEW (Lynda Maltby) are to meet to discuss how the two committees can better liaise.
c) Designatable Units WG
Gilles Seutin, Sherman Boates, Howard Powles, David Green, Suzanne Carrière, Jeff Hutchings, Mart Gross are to provide wording for the O & P Manual under guidelines for listing units below the species level. Marco suggested that this working group should liaise with the Ecozones Working Group.
d) Ecozones WG
Bob Campbell, chair, Maureen Toner, Rosemary Curley, Howard Powles, Gilles Seutin, Tom Jung, Andrew Trites or Hal Whitehead, Gerry Mackie, someone from the Secretariat, Mart Gross (unsure).
e) Criteria for Delisting WG
Dave Fraser, chair, Lucie Métras, Al Dextrase, David Green, Sherman Boates.
f) Long Term Planning WG
Jim Duncan, chair, René Belland, Suzanne Carrière, Tom Jung, Dave Fraser, someone from Secretariat.
Henry Lickers, interim Co-chair of the ATK Subcommittee advised as follows:
- There was a good meeting with the Aboriginal Working Group (AWG)
- It was decided to retain the word "Recovery" in the ATK Terms of Reference (ToR) because native groups feel that recovery is very important.
- The AWG is looking across the country for people to serve on the ATK Subcommittee.
- They are also trying to decide who will be other co-chair.
- They think it is a good idea to meet with the WMBs, COSEWIC and the Recovery Secretariat.
- The AWG hope that by the next meeting, they will have people who can provide advice - contacts within each major ecozone of Canada.
David Green added that reference to Recovery in the ToR of the ATK Subcommittee will allow them to obtain information about assessment and recovery all at once rather than contacting the elders twice).
A request for an emergency status assignment for two populations of sockeye salmon. (Cultus Lake population and Sakinaw Lake population) was received. An emergency assessment subcommittee was struck comprised of Marco , Mart Gross, Richard Haedrich, Bob Campbell as co-chairs of the Marine and Freshwater Fishes Specialist Subcommittees, Howard Powles, Dave Fraser, Theresa Fowler as jurisdictional members and Henry Lickers from the Aboriginal Traditional Knowlege (ATK) Subcommittee because of the importance of salmon to native groups. The request was evaluated during a teleconference that first determined the eligibility and need for emergency assessment. The status of "endangered" was given to both populations on October 24, 2002. The assessments were based on two excellent reports prepared by the Department of Fisheries & Oceans and the Emergency Assessment Subcommittee commented on the good information provided. Mart Gross is having these reports converted to COSEWIC reports to be considered at the spring meeting in Whitehorse at which time they will be reassessed.
Prior to the scheduled status assessments, Irene Bowman (member from Ontario) moved that COSEWIC reassess the following four species which were assigned status at the prior spring meeting of COSEWIC. At the prior meeting, no member was present from Ontario due to the provincial public service strike. Justifications were provided by Irene Bowman for each request but following discussion, COSEWIC decided not to reassess these species at this time and provided the following recommendations:
1) Climbing Prairie Rose
Recommendation - That Ontario provide to the Plants & Lichens Specialist Subcommittee an addendum or update report incorporating new information so that the species could come back as soon as possible (maybe at the spring 2003 meeting).
2) Lakeside Daisy
Recommendation: That the chair of the Plants & Lichens Specialist Subcommittee further discuss with Ontario the concerns addressed regarding this report.
3) Grey Fox
Recommendation: That the chair of the Terrestrial Mammals Specialist Subcommittee accelerate the process of revisiting this species.
4) Stinkpot
Recommendation: That Ontario discuss this matter further with the Amphibians and Reptiles Specialist Subcommittee.
Designations
See Appendix I.
Press Release
See Appendix II.
Some discussion took place regarding the definition of observer status at a meeting indicating that anyone who is not a voting member or required secretariat staff is an observer. Marco suggested that the status of Lynda Maltby, director of the Species at Risk Branch (which includes the COSEWIC Secretariat) of the Canadian Wildlife Service should be normalized as "ex officio". There was general agreement with this but it was felt that some appropriate wording needs to be developed to be subsequently discussed and recommended for approval. Marco was charged to come up with some appropriate wording for further discussion.
- Marco was invited to meet with the CWDC February 12, 2003 in Victoria.
- Marco and some members of COSEWIC will meet with the Fisheries Council of Canada and the Fisheries Resource Conservation Council in the afternoon of January 13, 2003 at Place Vincent Massey, Hull (Gatineau) to discuss some issues and concerns from these two organizations.
- Marco to co-chair with Bob Stevenson a meeting of COSEWIC members and members of the AWG March 8, 2003 at the Odawa Centre in Ottawa to discuss the ATK Terms of Reference.
- A Workshop with WMBs and COSEWIC to take place April 26-27, 2003 immediately prior to the next COSEWIC Species Assessment meeting in Whitehorse, Yukon. This workshop is scheduled as an opportunity to meet face to face to see how COSEWIC can continue to work together with WMBs.
April 28 - May 2, Whitehorse.
The spring meeting of COSEWIC was preceded by a one and a half day workshop held April 26-27, 2003 attended by several members of COSEWIC and representatives of nearly all Wildlife Management Boards (WMBs). The workshop was informative and productive and was an important step in furthering the relationship of the committee with these boards. An Appendix setting out the details of this relationship was discussed and redrafted with the representatives of the WMBs and COSEWIC. A later draft of this Appendix will eventually become part of the Operations & Procedures Manual of COSEWIC.
The spring, 2003, meeting of COSEWIC took place at the Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre, Whitehorse, Yukon from April 28 to May 2, 2003 chaired by Dr. Marco Festa-Bianchet.
All members were in attendance with the exception of Siu-Ling Han from Nunavut. Henry Lickers, interim co-chair of the ATK Subcommittee was also absent. Both members expressed regrets they were unable to attend due to illness.
Calls for membership were issued as the following members' terms would be expiring December 31, 2003.
The following incumbent members were the only applicants. They were considered and recommended by the Selection Committees for renewal:
Andrew Trites, co-chair, Marine Fishes Specialist Subcommittee
René Belland, co-chair, Plants & Lichens Specialist Subcommittee
Claude Renaud, co-chair, Freshwater Fishes Specialist Subcommittee
Marco Festa-Bianchet, co-chair, Terrestrial Mammals Specialist Subcommittee
The following members were renewed following a selection process whereby all applications were considered and evaluated by a Selection Committee. The top two candidates for each position were presented to COSEWIC and voted upon:
Michael Bradstreet, non government member
Richard Haedrich, co-chair, Marine Fishes Specialist Subcommittee.
The following other membership changes were provided:
Parks Canada
Alternate member , Parks Canada - Dr. Peter Achuff
Saskatchewan
New member - Jeanette Pepper (vacated by Earl Wiltse)
Alternate member - currently vacant (vacated by Dr. Rick Espie)
ATK Subcommittee
New interim co-chair - Larry Carpenter, Chair of the Wildlife Management Advisory Council (NWT), who was nominated by the Aboriginal Working Group in March, 2003.
The above new members attended this meeting.
The membership changes/renewals indicated above are herein submitted for your recommendation to the Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council (CESCC).
A Working Group was struck to establish better guidelines for selecting among competing applicants. The following volunteered:
Marco Festa-Bianchet
Claude Renaud
Gerry Mackie
Marty Leonard
Steve Brechtel
The revised Terms of Reference for COSEWIC were reviewed and discussed.
The revised Terms of Reference for COSEWIC are herein submitted for your recommendation to CESCC.
See Appendix III.
Version # 16 of the draft Terms of Reference for the ATK Committee (which include the function of the ATK Subcommittee within COSEWIC) were discussed at the meeting of COSEWIC with the Aboriginal Working Group in March, 2003. These Terms of Reference were provided following the March meeting to Environment Canada for review and comment. Members reviewed this version and it was agreed that Marco would write a letter to the Aboriginal Working Group addressing specific concerns.
The following key points were noted:
1. Schedule 2 Species (SARA)
The list of species was reviewed and co-chairs felt that the remaining species on this list could be reassessed within three years.
2. Confidentiality of Locality Data for Species at Risk
This matter was discussed and it was felt that with Access to Information that important information setting out precise locality information on species at risk should not be subject to general public access.
As currently there is nothing prohibiting release of this information, it was felt that this is a matter that needs to be addressed very soon. The Secretariat will look further into this matter.
3. Review of Status Reports by Jurisdictions
A first draft of a template to provide guidelines for reviewing status reports was discussed. The template will be further elaborated and will be submitted to COSEWIC for approval.
The following members volunteered to comprise the Nominating Committee:
Jeff Hutchings (chair)
René Belland
Gilles Seutin
Al Dextrase
Lucie Métras (Secretariat)
Members were reminded about confidentiality and asked following designation, to ensure the range of occurrence is confirmed, the criteria met are clearly stated and that the reasons for designation also point out any major areas of uncertainty.
See Appendix IV which includes the confirmation of the Emergency Designations of October, 2003 for the Sakinaw Lake and Cultus Lake, British Columbia, populations of the Sockeye Salmon.
Marco Festa-Bianchet, Howard Powles, Richard Haedrich, Al Dextrase and Erich Haber volunteered to assist in the drafting of the press release, which was later reviewed by all COSEWIC members.
See Appendix V.
It was agreed that the manual be renamed Operations ( not Organization) & Procedures Manual . COSEWIC clarified that responsibility for the content and changes to the Operations & Procedures Manual is vested with COSEWIC. The O & P Subcommittee may incorporate minor changes but will consult COSEWIC for major changes requiring a 2/3 majority vote.
Following discussion by the members it was decided that no "ex officio" status would be given to the director of the Species at Risk branch of the Canadian Wildlife Service. Members stated that they will continue to welcome the director and all wildlife directors to COSEWIC meetings. However, the status of all non-COSEWIC members and alternates aside from COSEWIC Secretariat staff will continue to be observer status.
Following discussion, it was agreed that a Working Group be set up to look at the form, content and format of a document that would link species assessment with recovery. This Working Group would also look at the validity and appropriateness of the items requested by RENEW.
Linking COSEWIC with RENEW Working Group:
Marco Festa-Bianchet
Dave Fraser
Joe Brazil
Jim Duncan
Dick Cannings
Steve Brechtel
Lucie Métras, Secretariat.
Marco was tasked to contact the chair of RENEW on this matter.
A working group was struck to review and comment on the draft Work Plan and Budget for 2003-2004 comprised of Gilles Seutin, Mart Gross, Bob Campbell and Erich Haber.
The finalized draft of the Work Plan & Budget was reviewed and approved.
See Appendix VI.
The co-chairs agreed to put together a candidate list selecting priority species for new reports along with justifications and will produce a document to be agreed on by COSEWIC for approval by e-mail.
It was decided that there will be electronic voting by COSEWIC at future meetings. The Secretariat will acquire the equipment for this.
The following was noted.
-Species listed as Not at Risk are reassessed only if re-prioritized
-Species listed as Data Deficient are reassessed after 10 years.
Gerry Mackie, chair of the working group provided the revisions to the Instructions to Authors for review and comment.
A working group was struck to identify the issues related to unsolicited reports for the next meeting in the fall :
Gilles Seutin, chair
Marty Leonard
Maureen Toner
The revised draft was approved and it was agreed that it should go in the O & P Manual.
The report of the Working Group was reviewed and comments made. It was particularly noted that the reference to species of "National Significance" will now be removed from the O & P Manual and also from reports.
It was agreed that a report author may suggest status assessments below the species level and discuss it with the appropriate Species Specialist Subcommittee, but that the authority of which units to recommend to COSEWIC for designation rests with the Species Specialist Subcommittee.
It was agree that the Working Group comprised of the following continue its work although the document will be incorporated "as is" in the O & P manual:
David Green, chair
Howard Powles
Jeff Hutchings
Steve Carr
Mart Gross
Gilles Seutin
A document was submitted for review and approval and is presented herein for recommendation to CESCC.
See Appendix VII.
The Freshwater Fishes map and the Amphibians, Reptiles & Terrestrial Molluscs Map were submitted to be added to the existing Ecozones map of COSEWIC and contained within the O & P Manual.
November 24-28, 2003, Ottawa
April 26-30, 2004, Port Rowan, Ontario
Joe Brazil, Newfoundland & Labrador, offered to host the spring 2005 Species Assessment Meeting at Gros Morne National Park.
Marco thanked the members, and particularly the Secretariat staff for their continued initiative, hard work, professionalism and support. Special thanks were given to Tom Jung and the Yukon Fish and Wildlife Branch for hosting a highly successful and smooth-running meeting in Whitehorse.
Results are grouped by taxon and then by status category. A reason for designation is given for each species. A short history of status designations follows. The Canadian range of each species (by province / territory / ocean) is provided.
Mammals
Birds
Reptiles
Amphibians
Fishes
Molluscs
Plants
Mosses
Lichens
Note: The report on the Frosted Glass-whiskers (Sclerophora peronella) was withdrawn for inclusion of additional information. The report on the Anatum Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum) was withdrawn so that a combined report for all Peregrine Falcons in Canada could be brought to COSEWIC at a later date.
Ottawa, November 29, 2002 - Eleven species, including the Oregon Forestsnail and the Silver Hair Moss have been added to the Canadian list of Species at Risk following scientific assessments completed this week by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada.
There are now 415 species in various risk categories on the list, including 141 that are Endangered, 99 that are Threatened, and 142 species of Special concern. In addition, 21 species are Extirpated (no longer found in Canada), and 12 Extinct.
The Scotian Shelf population of the Northern Bottlenose Whale was uplisted to Endangered. The estimated population of these whales, which are mainly found in an underwater canyon in the Atlantic Ocean known as "the Gully" off the coast of Nova Scotia, totals about 130 individuals. Northern Bottlenose Whales are known as one of the "friendliest" species of whales, often coming right up to boats that sail into their habitat. This friendliness made them an easy target for whalers, who actively hunted the species until the mid 1960s. The Northern Bottlenose Whale, a beaked whale, is one of the deepest divers of all mammals, regularly diving to depths below 1,000 metres.
The Scotian Shelf population of the Northern Bottlenose Whale is threatened by oil and gas exploration and development in and around its prime habitat near Sable Island. Beaked whales elsewhere have perished because of loud underwater noises associated with undersea exploration and military exercises.
COSEWIC assessed 31 species during its five-day meeting in Ottawa. Assessments on two additional species were deferred. Fifteen species were assessed for the first time. Of these, the Oregon Forestsnail, the Lake Winnipeg Physa Snail, the Streambank Lupine and the Forked Three-awned Grass were added to the list in the Endangered category, which is the highest category of risk for species still present in Canada.
Seven of the species that were re-assessed were uplisted to a higher category of risk, including three freshwater fishes (the Pugnose Shiner, the Speckled Dace, and the Northern Madtom) and three plants (the Small-flowered Lipocarpha, the Common Hoptree, and the Small-flowered Sand-verbena).
The Macoun's Shining Moss was designated Extinct. Its only documented site was deforested in 1892, and it has never been found again. Two species have been determined to be Extirpated from Canada: the Puget Oregonian Snail, from southwestern British Columbia, and the Incurved Grizzled Moss, from southern Ontario.
"COSEWIC has recently devoted much time and energy to reassessments of Threatened and Endangered species," said committee chair Dr. Marco Festa-Bianchet," and we are now ready for the government's proposed Species at Risk legislation."
COSEWIC is an independent organization of wildlife experts that uses the best information available to determine the level of risk of extinction for Canada's wildlife species. Since the committee was formed 25 years ago, it has completed 589 species assessments. COSEWIC is composed of government and non-government members, members from academic institutions, and one member with expertise in Aboriginal traditional knowledge. COSEWIC will hold its next meeting in the Yukon in the spring of 2003, the first time the Committee will meet North of 60.
Species: Any indigenous species, subspecies, variety or geographically defined population of wild fauna and flora.
Population: A geographically or otherwise distinct group of plants or animals that has little demographic or genetic exchange with other such groups.
Extinct: A species that no longer exists.
Extirpated: A species no longer existing in the wild in Canada, but occurring elsewhere.
Endangered: A species facing imminent extirpation or extinction.
Threatened: A species likely to become endangered if limiting factors are not reversed.
Special Concern: Those species that are particularly sensitive to human activities or natural events but are not endangered or threatened species.
Not at Risk: A species that has been evaluated and found not to be at risk.
Data Deficient: A species for which there is insufficient scientific information to support status designation.
For further information, contact:
Dr. Marco Festa-Bianchet
Chair, COSEWIC
(819) 563-6226
(819) 821-8000 (Ext. 2061)
Marco.Festa-Bianchet@usherbrooke.ca
Inquiries on the Northern Bottlenose Whale should be directed to:
Dr. Hal Whitehead
Co-chair, Marine Mammal Specialist Sub-committee
(902) 479-1861
hal.whitehead@dal.ca
Inquiries on mosses should be directed to:
Dr. René Belland
Co-chair, Plants and Lichens Species Sub-committee
(780) 987-3054
rene.belland@ualberta.ca
General inquiries:
COSEWIC Secretariat
(819) 997-4991
www.cosewic.gc.ca
Note to members of the media: Dr. Festa-Bianchet, Dr. Belland and Dr. Whitehead will be in transit Friday afternoon November 29, but will return calls and e-mail messages late in the afternoon or in the early evening.
Revised May 27, 2003
(with new text bolded)
To assess the conservation status of species that may be at risk in Canada, to report the results of its assessments, including their reasons and uncertainties, to the Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council (CESCC) and to the Canadian public. COSEWIC uses the best available scientific, Aboriginal and community knowledge to assess species. The assessment process is independent and transparent.
On behalf of the CESCC, the Canadian Wildlife Directors Committee provides general direction to COSEWIC on matters of organization and procedures, such as membership, structure and criteria. Within this framework, COSEWIC's assessments are carried out and reported in an independent and transparent manner. To determine candidate species for assessment, COSEWIC uses, among other sources of information, the evaluations provided by the National General Status Working Group. COSEWIC documentation is provided to the National Recovery Working Group as a starting point for recovery planning.
COSEWIC includes scientific experts in conservation biology, ecology, taxonomy, wildlife management, stock assessment, population biology, Aboriginal or community knowledge, and related fields. It is composed of experts from each of the provinces and territories (1 each for a total of 13), one from each of four federal agencies/departments (CWS, DFO, Parks Canada, and the Museum of Nature on behalf of the Federal Biosystematics Partnership), their alternates, the Co-Chairs of the Species Specialist Subcommittees, the Co-Chairs of the Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge Subcommittee and three Non-government scientific experts. All members are appointed under federal legislation to four-year, renewable terms. Details of member selection are provided in Annex 1. The Chair of COSEWIC is a two-year appointment elected by COSEWIC from among its members by secret ballot.
Species Specialist Subcommittees- Species Specialist Subcommittees (SSCs, Annex 2) include two Co-Chairs and a minimum of five members. They develop status reports for COSEWIC assessments. The need for new Species Specialist Subcommittees is assessed by COSEWIC in consultation with CESCC.
Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge Subcommittee- The Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge Subcommittee facilitates the incorporation of Aboriginal traditional knowledge into the COSEWIC status assessment process. It is led by two Co-Chairs, selected by the Subcommittee from among its members.
Co-Chairs Subcommittee - The COSEWIC Co-Chairs Subcommittee includes the Co-Chairs of the Species Specialist and Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge Subcommittees, and is chaired by the chair of COSEWIC. It deals with technical aspects of the work of the SSCs and provides advice on such matters to COSEWIC.
Emergency Assessment Subcommittee- The Chair of COSEWIC may set up an Emergency Assessment Subcommittee to deal specifically with a request for Emergency Assessment. An Emergency Assessment Subcommittee includes the Chair of COSEWIC, COSEWIC members from the species' range jurisdictions, the Co-Chairs of the appropriate SSC and other COSEWIC members at the Chair's discretion. The Subcommittee assesses the available evidence and may classify the species into an appropriate risk category. As soon as possible, a report on the species will be examined by COSEWIC at a Species Assessment Meeting and the species will be re-assessed.
Operations and Procedures Subcommittee- This Subcommittee is composed of COSEWIC members and updates the COSEWIC Operations and Procedures Manual as requested by COSEWIC. All substantive changes to the Manual must be approved by COSEWIC.
Secretariat - Administration services and technical support will be provided by a Secretariat funded and staffed by the Canadian Wildlife Service.
Assessments are made on the basis of the best available biological information, including scientific, Aboriginal and community knowledge.
COSEWIC will be guided by the precautionary approach as set out in the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk in Canada.
COSEWIC meets at least once a year. Quorum is two thirds of the voting membership.
COSEWIC develops its own operations and procedures, including the creation of subcommittees and working groups, recognizing its accountability to the Canadian Wildlife Directors Committee.
Assessment decisions are made on the basis of consensus whenever possible. When unanimity is not possible, decisions are based on a two-thirds majority vote.
COSEWIC provides to CESCC and to the public the complete reasons for each status assessment and identifies any uncertainties noted during the assessment.
The Chair of COSEWIC may seek advice from appropriate members on any issue of concern to COSEWIC.
COSEWIC
To review and approve candidate and priority lists of species for assessment as submitted by the Co-Chairs Subcommittee.
To assess the status of species using accepted criteria and definitions.
To report its assessments and findings to the CESCC, and to publish its assessments and status reports.
To develop and periodically review scientific definitions, guidelines, standards and criteria to assess the status of wildlife species, to forward them to CESCC for endorsement and to publish them.
To review plans, annual reports, budgets, and activities of COSEWIC and its Subcommittees.
To establish working groups to deal with specific issues.
To provide direction to the Secretariat.
To prepare an annual report of all COSEWIC activities.
To receive unsolicited reports that have been reviewed by the appropriate SSC.
Species Specialist Subcommittees
To establish, with input from the Co-Chairs Subcommittee, priority lists of species to be assessed.
To commission status reports on eligible candidate species.
To review unsolicited reports and ensure that they meet the standards of commissioned reports.
In cooperation with COSEWIC members from range jurisdictions, wildlife management boards and outside experts, to review draft status reports to ensure accuracy, completeness, quality of analysis and application of relevant listing criteria.
To recommend a status to COSEWIC.
Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge Subcommittee
[The roles and functions of the Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge Subcommitee are currently being developed.]
Co-Chairs Subcommittee
To recommend priorities for assessments within and among each taxonomic group.
To establish guidelines for the selection of competing bids for status reports, the drafting of status reports, and for the assessment of the quality and suitability of unsolicited reports.
To undertake actions requested by COSEWIC.
To provide advice to COSEWIC on matters related to the work of SSCs.
Secretariat
To provide administrative services, such as organizing and servicing meetings.
To provide administrative and technical support to subcommittees.
To administer financial support for status reports.
To maintain financial records.
To maintain files, records and other archival materials.
To disseminate information to the public, including the publication of status reports in both official languages.
Responsibilities
Members
To perform their duties in an independent manner.
To attend COSEWIC meetings, including Emergency Assessment meetings as requested by the Chair.
To review draft and interim status reports and contribute to status assessment deliberations to the best of their knowledge and ability.
For jurisdictional members, to advise writers of status reports of known sources of information, suggest species for the priority list and for status reports, guide report writers to appropriate contacts within their jurisdictions, review draft and interim reports, and provide regional expertise on the status of, and threats to species within their jurisdiction.
Chair
To ensure that meetings proceed in an orderly fashion maintaining the principles of independence, transparency, and scientific integrity upon which COSEWIC is based.
To head the Co-Chairs subcommittee.
To initiate Emergency Status Assessments.
To serve as contact person and spokesperson to CESCC, news media, and the general public.
Observers
At the discretion of the Chair, observers may attend COSEWIC meetings with advance special permission if their presence assists COSEWIC in fulfilling its mandate. Observers will maintain confidentiality over the proceedings and decisions of COSEWIC.
Selection of COSEWIC membership:
Species Specialist Subcommittee Co-Chairs and Non-government experts are recommended to CESCC by COSEWIC after an open competition. SSC members are selected by the SSC through an open competition. Jurisdictional members are recommended by their jurisdiction to the CESCC. All jurisdictional members of COSEWIC have one Alternate, also recommended by their jurisdiction. Alternates are members of COSEWIC. The Co-Chairs of the ATK Subcommitee are recommended to the CESCC by COSEWIC following nomination by appropriate aboriginal organizations.
COSEWIC Species Specialist Subcommittees:
There are nine* Species Specialist Subcommittees representing birds, terrestrial mammals, freshwater fishes, marine fishes, marine mammals, plants and lichens, amphibians and reptiles, molluscs and arthropods.*
* COSEWIC received approval from the Canadian Wildlife Directors in May 2003 to replace the previous Lepidopterans and Molluscs Specialist Subcommittee with a new Arthropod Specialist Subcommittee and a Molluscs Specialist Subcommittee. All lepidopterans will henceforth be considered by the new Arthropods Specialist Subcommittee.
COSEWIC Membership and voting structure:
Members of COSEWIC include 3 Non-government experts, 18** Co-Chairs of Species Specialist Subcommittees, 2 Co-Chairs of the Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge Subcommittee, one Member and one Alternate of the following Federal Agencies: Parks Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, and the Canadian Museum of Nature on behalf of the Federal Biosystematics Partnership. There are one Member and one Alternate from each of the following Provincial and Territorial agencies:
Yukon: Department of Environment
Northwest Territories: Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development
Nunavut: Department of Sustainable Development
British Columbia: Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection
Alberta: Department of Sustainable Resource Development
Saskatchewan: Saskatchewan Environment
Manitoba: Manitoba Conservation
Ontario: Ministry of Natural Resources
Québec: (1) Société de la Faune et des parcs du Québec (for animals) and (2) Ministère de l'Environnement (for plants, mosses and lichens)
New Brunswick: Department of Natural Resources and Energy
Nova Scotia: Department of Natural Resources
Prince Edward Island: Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment
Newfoundland and Labrador: (1) Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation (for plants and animals except saltwater fishes) and (2) Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture (for saltwater fishes)
There are 30**voting members: the 3 Non-government experts, 1 Co-Chair for each of the 9** Species Specialist Subcommittees, 1 Co-Chair of the Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge Subcommittee, 1 for each of the 4 Federal agencies and 1 for each of the 10 provinces and 3 territories.
** One each of the Co-chairs of the previous Lepidopterans and Molluscs Specialist Subcommittee will become a Co-chair of the Arthropods Specialist Subcommittee and the Molluscs Specialist Subcommittee, respectively. A call for applications for the remaining two Co-chair positions and any additional members that may be required by the two subcommittees is planned for the fall of 2003.
Results are grouped by taxon and then by status category. A reason for designation is given for each species. A short history of status designations follows. The Canadian range of each species (by province, territory and ocean) is provided.
Mammals
Birds
Reptiless
Amphibians
Fishes
Lepidopterans
Molluscs
Plants
Mosses
Note: The reports for Stoloniferous Pussytoes (Antennaria flagellaris), Slender Collomia (Collomia tenella), Dwarf Woolly-heads (Psilocarphus brevissimus var. brevissimus) and Small-flowered Tonella (Tonella tenella) were withdrawn to allow incorporation of additional information.
Two Atlantic Cod populations designated at risk
Canadian List of Species at Risk increases to 431
Whitehorse, Yukon, May 2, 2003 - Two populations of the Atlantic Cod have been designated as threatened and endangered following assessments this week by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC).
There are now 431 species in various COSEWIC risk categories, including 153 that are endangered, 102 that are threatened, and 143 species of special concern. In addition, 21 species are extirpated (no longer found in Canada), and 12 are extinct. Another 29 species are considered data deficient. The number of species on the list has increased by 16 since the November 2002 COSEWIC meeting.
The Newfoundland and Labrador population (see below for specific stocks) of the Atlantic Cod was designated as endangered. Over the last 30 years, there has been a 97% decline in cod off the northeast coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the species has essentially disappeared from offshore portions of its range. Fishing has been the main threat to the cod, but directed commercial and recreational fisheries have now been closed.
The Laurentian North population of the Atlantic Cod, which extends from the northern Gulf of the St-Lawrence to Newfoundland's south coast, was assessed as threatened. Cod remain abundant in the eastern part of the region (southern coast of Newfoundland), but have declined substantially in the northern Gulf, where the fishery is now also closed.
The Maritimes population of the Atlantic Cod remains in the special concern category.
Two species were downlisted to a lower category of risk. The Western North Atlantic population of the Humpback Whale, previously listed in the special concern category, was removed from the list, due in part to the success of recovery efforts. Fewer Humpback Whales are becoming entangled in fishing nets, and people have become more proficient at untangling those that are caught. There are now about 10,000 Humpback whales in the Western North Atlantic.
The Northwest Atlantic population of the Harbour Porpoise was also downlisted, from threatened, to special concern. Because of reduced fishing activities in the Atlantic and measures to reduce bycatch in the Bay of Fundy, fewer porpoises are killed accidentally. However concerns remain about potential bycatch levels, and further monitoring is required.
Three species of plants found in British Columbia's Garry Oak ecosystems were added to the list. The Howell's Triteleia, the Coastal Scouler's Catchfly and the Kellogg's Rush were all found to be endangered. Garry Oak ecosystems are home to more plant species than any other terrestrial ecosystem in coastal British Columbia. Over recent decades, habitat conversion of the ecosystems to agricultural and urban uses has occurred at an accelerating rate. Less than five per cent of the original Garry Oak habitat remains. It is one of the most endangered ecosystems in Canada.
The Western population of the Wolverine, found in five provinces and three territories, including the area around Whitehorse, remained in the special concern category after being reassessed. The eastern population remains endangered, and may no longer exist.
COSEWIC confirmed two emergency listings made in October 2002. The Cultus and Sakinaw populations of the Sockeye Salmon are both endangered.
The Committee also spent two days meeting with representatives of Wildlife Management Boards from across Canada during its stay in Whitehorse. "This was an important first step in launching a new partnership with Boards established under land claim settlements, who play a major role in wildlife conservation," said COSEWIC chair Dr. Marco Festa-Bianchet. "They welcomed us to the North enthusiastically, and helped us gain a better appreciation of the broad range of their activities," he added.
COSEWIC assessed 40 species during its five-day meeting. Twenty-four species were assessed for the first time, 19 of which were added to the COSEWIC list of Species at Risk.
COSEWIC is an independent committee of wildlife experts that uses the best information available to determine the level of risk of extinction for Canada's wildlife species. Since the committee was formed in 1977, it has completed 612 species assessments. COSEWIC is composed of government and non-government members, members from academic institutions, and two members who facilitate the inclusion of Aboriginal traditional knowledge.
Species: Any indigenous species, subspecies, variety, or geographically or genetically defined population of wild fauna and flora.
Population: A geographically or otherwise distinct group of plants or animals that has little demographic or genetic exchange with other such groups.
Extinct: A species that no longer exists.
Extirpated: A species no longer existing in the wild in Canada, but occurring elsewhere.
Endangered: A species facing imminent extirpation or extinction.
Threatened: A species likely to become endangered if limiting factors are not reversed.
Special Concern: Those species that are particularly sensitive to human activities or natural events but are not endangered or threatened species.
Not at Risk: A species that has been evaluated and found not to be at risk.
Data Deficient: A species for which there is insufficient scientific information to support status designation.
Cod stocks The following stocks comprise cod populations assessed by COSEWIC:
For further information, contact:
Note to members of the media: All of the contacts listed below will be in Whitehorse through Sunday May 4, and can be reached at the Westmark Whitehorse Hotel at (867) 393-9700.
Further details on the species assessed, and the reasons behind each designation, can be found on the COSEWIC website at:
| Project | When | Who | What | Cost estimate | Deliverables |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COSEWIC and WMBs joint workshop and Species Assessment Meeting - spring | 26 April - 2 May 2003 in Whitehorse | All | Logistics, travel, hospitality, | $60,000 | a)Improve WMBs participation into COSEWIC species assessment process; b)Assess 39 taxa, confirm priority species for new status reports, approve changes and addition to membership, review revised Terms of Reference for COSEWIC, review and approve new guidelines & appendices, to include to the Organization & Procedures Manual |
| COSEWIC , WMBs and Aboriginal Working Group joint workshop and Species Assessment Meeting - fall | 23 -28 November, 2003 in Ottawa | All | Logistics, travel, hospitality, contract | $100,000 | a)Continue to define the process to facilitate the inclusion of ATK into COSEWIC assessment process b)Assess 20-25 taxa, approve changes to membership, continue to review and approve appendices to include to the Organizations and Procedures Manual |
| Species Specialist Subcommittees annual meetings, including few public forum | Annual | SSC co-chairs, members, observers, Secretariat | Logistics, travel | $90,000 | Candidate lists of priority species, review of status reports, proposals for status, preparation of annual work plan and report |
| Non-government member costs | Annual | non-government members, Secretariat | Travel, contract, honoraria | $430,000 | co-chairs: prioritized candidate lists of species, preparation of status reports, proposals for status, management of SSCs; other non-government members: participation at COSEWIC meetings and on working groups |
| Prioritized candidate lists | approval by COSEWIC at spring meeting | Marine fishes SSC co-chairs, Secretariat | Contract for preparation of candidate list of Marine Fishes for the Pacific | $20,000 | priority species for assessment |
| Preparation of a list for all Salmonids for the Pacific | Call for bids September 2003 | Fishes SSC Co-chairs, Secretariat | Contract | $20,000 | Identification and ranking for all Salmonids for the Pacific |
| Status report commissioning | call for bids May and September 2003 | SSC co-chairs, Secretariat | Contracts | $250,000 | Status reports on priority species for assessment including when possible the inclusion of ATK is status reports |
| Status report finalization | ongoing | SSC co-chairs, Secretariat | Contracts | $100,000 | editing and translation of >100 status reports for publication on public registry under SARA |
| Secretariat operations | ongoing | COSEWIC, Secretariat | Administrative and technical costs, contracts, translation of the Operations and Procedures Manual | $100,000 | administrative and technical support for COSEWIC and its subcommittees, reporting to CESCC and the public |
| Communications, outreach | ongoing | COSEWIC members, SSCs co-chairs, Secretariat | Contract for communication activities after each assessment meeting and web site continued development | $25,000 | information on assessments of species at risk in Canada to the scientific community and the public |
| Total | $1,195,000 |
Prepared by a COSEWIC Working Group chaired by Gerry Mackie and including Sherman Boates, Dick Cannings, Jim Duncan, Theresa Fowler, Henry Lickers and Marco Festa-Bianchet
COSEWIC is currently mandated to cover only two groups of invertebrates, the molluscs and butterflies. The work of the Molluscs and Lepidopterans Specialist Sub-committee has led to the assessment of 32 species since its creation in 1995.
Many invertebrate phyla that are not included within the taxonomic expertise of any current COSEWIC SSC contain species potentially at risk. Some phyla deserve attention because they are well known and face significant threats (e.g., habitat degradation, harvest, exploitation); these include Cnidaria (especially corals), Porifera (sponges), Echinodermata (starfishes, sea urchins, etc), and Arthropoda (spiders, crustaceans and insects).
However, resources for, and feasibility of, species assessments are limited for many of these groups. Arthropoda is the logical phylum of choice for an expansion of the taxonomic coverage of COSEWIC, because several species that are important ecologically, economically, socially, recreationally or aesthetically are under threat, and considerable expertise exists in Canada to support the assessment process. We therefore propose that a new SSC be added to COSEWIC on the phylum Arthropoda, resulting in one additional vote on COSEWIC. Limited availability of data on the status of most arthropod species indicates that the number of species assessed in the first five years of work of the proposed new SSC should be limited to approximately 20 species.
1. Taxonomic stability and specimen availability:
About 4,500 species of arachnids, 400 species of crustaceans and 30,000 species of insects occur in Canada. The largest collection of arachnids in Canada is the Canadian National Collection (CNC); about 70% of the collection is curated to the species level. The Canadian Museum of Nature has about 85,000 lots of crustaceans, most of them identified to species.
About 20 million insect specimens are held in more than 100 collections in Canada. About 13 million of these specimens are in the Canadian National Collection in Ottawa. In addition, there are about 50 collections that contain more than 10,000 specimens each. Most agriculture and forestry laboratories and many universities and museums hold smaller, more or less specialized, collections, most of them built up by one or a few interested individuals within the larger institution. Curation to the species or species group level varies greatly, depending largely on whether revisions for particular families are available for the North American fauna.
2. Expertise on Taxon:
There are approximately 100 acarologists in Canada, mostly associated with universities and federal and provincial museums or collections. The distribution of expertise appears to be mainly central and western Canada (especially BC).
There is less information available on the numbers of crustacean experts in Canada. We estimate that about 20-30 crustacean experts are actively doing ecological and taxonomic research on a variety of crustaceans. COSEWIC members are already in contact with several of these experts.
More than 1,000 entomologists work in Canada, and several hundred conduct research. Research efforts are carried out in federal and provincial government services and in universities, and to a lesser extent in private industry.
3. Expertise to serve as SSC co-chairs and members:
Most of the membership for the Arthropoda SSC will be derived from the large pool of experts described above.
4. Expertise to serve as authors of status reports:
The pool of experts to serve as authors for arachnid reports will be from graduate students of taxonomic experts, the members of the SSC, research technicians, and consultants. About 25 people are registered in the workgroup database on arachnid taxa, most of them from western (BC, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba) and central Canada (Ontario and Québec).
Many departments of the federal government employ entomologists, but by far the greatest number work for Agriculture Canada which has 28 regional agricultural stations and 6 forestry centres. Professional entomologists in universities are as numerous as those in the federal service. One or more entomologists are included in many university departments of biology or zoology, and larger numbers work in entomology departments at the University of Manitoba and Macdonald College of McGill University, the Department of Environmental Biology at the University of Guelph, and biology departments of the Universities of Toronto, Alberta and British Columbia. More than 300 graduate students are currently registered in entomology at Canadian universities, about 130 proceeding to the degree of Ph.D. Several dozen entomologists are employed by provincial ministries of agriculture, environment, etc., and several more work at Provincial Museums in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Nova Scotia. Consulting companies conducting environmental studies, pest control firms, pesticide companies, and a few other private organizations also employ a modest number of entomologists.
Most Canadian jurisdictions do not currently list any Arthropoda other than Lepidopterans in Provincial or Territorial Species at Risk legislation. Nevertheless, three species of tiger beetle are either listed as "Vulnerable" or under consideration for possible listing in Manitoba, while in Québec a list of possible candidate species is being prepared for coleopterans and crayfishes.
The website, http://rbcm1.rbcm.gov.bc.ca/end_species/insectax.html, lists the following arachnid and insect taxa as species at risk in BC; presumably sufficient information exists for each of them and they would be among the first to be recommended for evaluation by COSEWIC:
Arachnids:
Sun Scorpion (Eremobates gladiolus)
Insects:
Coleoptera: Parowan Tiger Beetle (Cicindela parowana)
Odonata: Vivid Dancer (Argia vivida)
Orthoptera: Ground Mantid (Litaneutria minor)
Diptera: Apiocerid Fly (Apiocera barri)
Robber Fly (Megaphorus willistoni)
Hymenoptera: Scoliid Wasp (Campsomeris pilipes)
Crustaceans:
Two species of crayfish, Fallicambarus fodiens and Cambarus diogenes, also appear worthy of consideration immediately. Both species are burrowing, semi-terrestrial crayfishes of southern Ontario.
For the most part, our understanding of most insect groups would result in rankings reflecting inadequate data and poor knowledge of life histories. Consequently, those groups and species would be unlikely to be considered by COSEWIC, at least in the immediate future. We emphasize that the new Arthropoda SSC will avoid commissioning reports on species for which available information is insufficient to evaluate conservation status.
The total number of arthropod species that a new SSC is likely to review over the first few years of its existence would be determined by a working group composed of experts in all three classes (see "Conclusions and Recommendations"). A reasonable estimate would be double those listed above (i.e., about 20 species) within 5 years, in addition to butterflies that are already within the mandate of the current "Molluscs and Lepidopterans" SSC.
Conclusions and Recommendations:
There are several arthropod species that would be immediately eligible for review as well as several knowledgeable report writers that could bid for the production of status reports. There is also adequate expertise to form a Species Specialist Subcommittee. Because information on most species is insufficient for a COSEWIC assessment, there is no need currently to create distinct sub-committee for the spiders, crustaceans and insects.
We recommend the establishment of a new SSC with mandate to cover Arthropods, including the lepidopterans that are currently covered by the Molluscs and Lepidopterans SSC. The latter SSC would have its mandate limited to molluscs. It is useful to note here that the current Molluscs and Lepidopterans SSC presently works as two essentially independent sub-groups because of the very different nature of the taxa covered and conservation issues those taxa face.
The creation of new SSC and revision to a current one would result in one additional vote for COSEWIC, and two new "members" (i.e., the two co-chairs).
The proposed Arthropoda SSC would be based on the current Lepidoptera SSC members and would then recruit other members. A COSEWIC working group would be established to develop, under the guidance of the COSEWIC Chair, a working plan for the Arthropoda SSC. The working group will decide on the co-chair expertise required and on the number and expertise of SSC members. Once it is formed, the Arthropoda SSC will develop a prioritization scheme based on probable risk and available information on Canadian species. That prioritization scheme will be examined by COSEWIC before status reports are commissioned.
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