Government of Canada protects Species at Risk habitat

OTTAWA, July 25, 2018 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is dedicated to the protection of species at risk and their habitat from coast to coast to coast and is taking action to ensure their recovery.

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, has announced four Critical Habitat Orders under the Species at Risk Act. The approved Critical Habitat Orders will allow for further protection of these at-risk species, including three fish species ? Spring Cisco, Eastern Sand Darter (Quebec population), and Lake Chubsucker ? as well as one whale species, Northern Bottlenose Whale (Scotian shelf population).

A Critical Habitat Order focuses on protecting specific geographic locations and conditions essential for the survival and recovery of the species, such as where they give birth, hatch, feed or raise their young. Proposed activities in areas designated as critical habitat must be assessed on a case-by-case basis and may require a permit before proceeding to ensure that the proposed activity will not jeopardize the survival or recovery of the species. A Critical Habitat Order applies to any ongoing or future human activities that could result in the destruction of any part of the identified critical habitat of an at-risk species. 

The Government of Canada's Oceans Protection Plan includes important steps to address threats to marine mammals, including Northern Bottlenose Whale. Some of these steps include taking action to better understand and address the cumulative effects of shipping and noise and increasing the number of Fishery Officers to help with incident responses.

Quotes

"The protection of aquatic species is a priority for our government and we are taking action to make sure that the habitats they need to thrive and survive are available and remain healthy. By working together with Canadians, we can decrease the number of species at risk in our country and enhance our rich and diverse marine environment."      

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

Quick Facts

• The Critical Habitat Orders protecting the critical habitat of the four species have already been the subject of public consultations and will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part II, on July 25, 2018.

Associated Links

• Canada Gazette website 
• Learn more about the Species at Risk Public Registry
• Spring Cisco
• Eastern Sand Darter (Quebec populations)
• Lake Chubsucker
• Northern Bottlenose Whale

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SOURCE Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Canada