2004-05 SARA Permits for Commercial Fishers

On June 1, 2004, it became illegal to kill, harm, harass, capture, or take any endangered or threatened species protected under the Species at Risk Act (SARA).

Although 79 aquatic species are currently protected under SARA, there are four species that have a greater likelihood of being caught incidentally through bycatch or gear entanglements by commercial fishers. These species include the northern and spotted wolffish, leatherback turtle, and inner Bay of Fundy Atlantic salmon.

Under the Act, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans may authorize fishers to continue fishing activities which may result in harm to some species. He may only do so, however, if he believes that these activities will not jeopardize the survival or recovery of species at risk. He must also believe that all reasonable alternatives to fishing have been considered and that all feasible measures will be taken to minimize the impact of fishing on these species.

After carefully examining the results of scientific assessments, the Minister has decided to issue SARA permits (Section 73 Permits) for northern and spotted wolffish and leatherback turtles to commercial fishers who are at the most risk of incidentally catching these species. He will not be issuing permits for inner Bay of Fundy Atlantic salmon. The Minister made this decision based on:

• the DFO Zonal Advisory Process review in May 2004, which revealed that current populations of northern wolffish are stable and populations of spotted wolffish are increasing, even with existing bycatch levels;

• the DFO Regional Advisory Process review in May 2004, which concluded that leatherback turtle mortality in Canadian waters is a small fraction of their total mortality in the Atlantic Ocean; and,

• the DFO Allowable Harm Assessment in April 2004, which indicated that any level of human-induced harm could jeopardize the survival or recovery of inner Bay of Fundy Atlantic salmon.

The Minister’s decision was also based on the efforts that DFO has taken to help these species recover, such as gear modifications and licence requirements for live release of wolffish bycatch and the development of a code of conduct for the responsible handling of sea turtles. He also considered recovery plans for the future, including new reporting requirements to establish a wolffish reporting system and to enhance our knowledge of the impact of fishing activities on the survival of the leatherback turtle.

Although DFO is issuing these permits, harm to species at risk should be avoided. The Department is relying on all commercial fishers to diligently adhere to the conditions attached to these permits, including the new conservation and reporting measures.

To learn more:

Frequently Asked Questions on SARA permits

How to Recognize Northern and Spotted Wolffish and Leatherback Turtles