| dc.description.abstract | The objective of the Species at Risk Act (SARA) is to protect and recover at-risk species and their
habitat. However, limitations have been identified for its implementation with aquatic species.
These include taxonomic biases, economic considerations, slow listing and plan development, and
poor critical habitat protection. This study aims to assess if the utilization of alternative tools under
an ecosystem-based approach (EBA) could strength conservation efforts in Canada, using the
Stewiacke River in Nova Scotia as a case study, based on the objectives of SARA. Tools were
identified in current processes in Canada, such as those resulting from the Oceans Act and
Fisheries Act, and evaluated for potential use. Additionally, to help inform recommendations, the
results of other countries such as Australia and New Zealand who have adopted EBAs in their
conservation programs were evaluated for comparison. Overall, analysis of EBA tools in Canada
displayed a potential to strengthen conservation efforts by providing more information about the
species of interest, the identification of critical habitat, and the development of recovery measures.
Secondly, data gaps were identified for the effectiveness of available tools in Australia and New
Zealand, but similarities are presented when compared to Canadian tools. Additionally, there is an
opportunity for the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) to
draw upon the Australian threatened species listing framework to incorporate EBAs. Lastly,
Ecologically Significant Areas (ESA) and provincial watershed planning were suggested as
potential tools to mitigate threats of at-risk species in the Stewiacke River.
Keywords: Species at Risk Act, aquatic species at risk, ecosystem-based management, tool
identification | en_US |
