|
DFO concludes SARA cod consultations
St. John’s … Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has completed a series of 13 public consultations throughout Newfoundland and Labrador to discuss whether cod should be listed under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) in light of COSEWIC assessments of the status of two cod populations.
The consultations were held to follow up on the assessment, by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), of the status of Laurentian North Atlantic cod (NAFO Division 4RS3Pn3Ps) as “threatened,” and of the Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic cod (NAFO Division 2GHJ3KLNO) as “endangered” and to seek feedback on potential social and economic impacts if these species were to be listed under SARA.
Nearly 2,000 people attended the consultations, which were held in 12 communities. Represented at the meetings was a diverse cross-section of the population, from fishers to elected officials, as well as stakeholder groups, union leaders, clergy and concerned citizens. Speakers stated their thoughts on the COSEWIC assessments, what they felt the social and economic impacts would be if cod was listed as endangered or threatened, and their recommendation as to whether the cod populations should be listed under SARA.
In addition to these sessions, workbooks containing surveys with questions related to the conservation and recovery of these species were mailed to more than 5,000 fishers and user groups to complete. These workbooks were also made available at the meetings, and on-line at the SARA registry. To date, more than 1,200 surveys have been completed and returned to DFO. The workbooks are available through the public registry at www.sararegistry.gc.ca, or by writing Species at Risk Office, Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre, P.O. Box 5667, St. John’s, NL, A1C 5X1. The deadline to return these workbooks is November 30, although people are encouraged to return them as soon as possible.
The next step in the process will be to compile all information gathered from the consultation processes in Atlantic provinces, and prepare a written report for the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans by December. The Minister will advise the Minister of the Environment on whether a decision should be made to accept the assessments and add the species to the List, not to add the species to the List or refer the matter back to COSEWIC for further information or consideration. In giving his advice, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans will
consider the views of those consulted, a review of socio-economic impact prepared by DFO as well as an evaluation of allowable harm under SARA.
The Minister of the Environment must then make a recommendation to Federal Cabinet on whether or not to list these cod populations under SARA or to refer their assessments back to COSEWIC for further consideration.
For more information:
Jan Woodford
Regional Director
Communications
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
(709) 772-7622
Kimberley Penney
Communications Officer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
(709) 772-7629
|
