Terms of Reference

Recovery Potential Assessment of Carmine Shiner

Central and Arctic Regional Advisory Meeting

Winnipeg, Manitoba
15-16 March 2011

Chairperson: Kathleen Martin

Context

In November 2001, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) assessed the status of the Carmine Shiner (Notropis percobromus) as Threatened. The reason for this designation is because Carmine Shiner occurs in an extremely restricted area of Manitoba. The major threat to the species is the alteration in water flow as a result of stream regulation. In June 2003, the Carmine Shiner was added to Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA) as Threatened. COSEWIC re-assessed the species again as Threatened in April 2006. A recovery strategy was finalized in February 2008.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has been asked to undertake a Recovery Potential Assessment (RPA) for Carmine Shiner. DFO Science developed the RPA framework to provide the information and scientific advice required for the Department to meet various requirements of the SARA. The information in the RPA may be used to inform both scientific and socio-economic elements of the listing decision, as well as development of a recovery strategy and action plan, and to support decision-making with regards to the issuance of permits, agreements and related conditions, as per sections 73, 74, 75, 77 and 78 of SARA.

This advisory meeting is being held to assess the recovery potential of Carmine Shiner. The resulting RPA Science Advisory Report (SAR) will summarize the historic and current understanding of the distribution, abundance and trend of this species, along with recovery targets and times to recovery while considering various management scenarios. The current state of knowledge about habitat requirements, threats to both habitat and Carmine Shiner, and measures to mitigate these impacts, will also be included in the SAR. At this stage in the SARA process for Carmine Shiner, the information in the RPA may be used to inform the development of an action plan and to support decision-making with regards to SARA agreements and permits.

Objectives

The intent of this meeting is to assess the recovery potential of Carmine Shiner using the RPA framework outlined in the Revised Protocol for Conducting Recovery Potential Assessments. The advice will be provided to the DFO Minister for her consideration in meeting various requirements of SARA for this DU.

Expected Publications

The meeting will generate a proceedings report summarizing the deliberations of the participants. This will be published in the Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Proceedings Series. There will be CSAS Research Document(s) produced from the working paper(s) presented at the meeting. Advice from the meeting will be published in the form of a SAR.

Participation

Experts from DFO, provincial and U.S. state governments and industry have been invited to participate in this meeting.