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Summary: Socio-economic analysis of the Species at Risk Act (SARA) listing decision for 6 Designatable Units of Whitefish in Yukon Lakes

Lake Whitefish
Lake Whitefish (Source: COSEWIC)

Region: Pacific  
Populations:

Scientific name: Coregonus lavaretus (European Whitefish) and Coregonus clupeaformis (Lake Whitefish)
COSEWIC Status: Threatened
SARA Status: Under consideration

Context

The 6 populations, or designatable units (DUs), of whitefish in 3 southern Yukon lakes, as listed above, were assessed in 2018 as threatened by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), initiating the current SARA listing process.
A socio-economic analysis (SEA) has been completed to inform the current SARA listing decision for these 6 DUs of Yukon whitefish. The SEA considers incremental costs and benefits relative to a baseline of activity that accounts for management measures in place, or known to be coming into force, in the absence of the proposed regulation (i.e., without vs. with listing).

Baseline management and economic profiles

The management measures and economic activities that are currently on-going constitute the baseline scenario.

The 6 DUs of Yukon whitefish are managed by the Government of Yukon. The Yukon Territory Fishery Regulations allow a daily catch limit of 5, possession limit of 10, and minimum total length of 20 cm (Schedule IV) for these DUs.  There are no commercial fisheries for these 6 DUs, and they are insignificant in recreational fisheries. First Nation subsistence fisheries are monitored and managed by First Nation governments.

COSEWIC-assessed at-risk species are eligible for SARA (Species at Risk Act) funding until such time as a decision to not list is made. Currently, there is no SARA funding provided to these 6 DUs.

Management scenarios

‘List’ and ‘do not list’ management scenarios were developed as part of the current listing process. The SEA assesses the economic impacts of proposed and mandatory measures in each scenario relative to the baseline.

Under the ‘list’ scenario, the general prohibitions of SARA would come into effect. Individuals and their habitat would also continue to be managed and protected under existing legislation (Fisheries Act). SARA permits may be issued or exemptions from SARA prohibitions may be applied for research, First Nations harvest, and other activities, provided the species’ survival and recovery are not jeopardized. A recovery strategy and action plan would be developed and reported on every 5 years. Critical habitat would also be identified and protected. DFO would work in collaboration with the Government of Yukon, First Nations, and relevant Wildlife Management Boards to develop recovery documents. Activities supporting the listed DUs would remain eligible for the Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk, Habitat Stewardship Program, Canada Nature Fund for Aquatic Species at Risk, and Canada-Yukon MOU funding.

Under the ‘do not list’ scenario, there would be no change to the existing regulatory regime if all DUs are declined for listing. Incremental activities for these DUs are unlikely to be undertaken by DFO if they are declined for listing, as the Government of Yukon is responsible for freshwater fisheries management in the Yukon and species expertise sits outside DFO. There will be limited opportunities for DFO to work collaboratively with the Government of Yukon, First Nations and others to recover the DUs and fill knowledge gaps. Species declined for listing are ineligible for the Canada Nature Fund for Aquatic Species at Risk and Canada-Yukon MOU funding, and at a lower priority for grant and contribution programs like the Habitat Stewardship Program and Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk.

Costs of list and do not list scenarios

Under the ‘do not list’ management scenario, no incremental actions have been identified. Therefore, no costs are expected to result.

Under the ‘list’ management scenario, the costs of listing would mainly stem from the development and implementation of activities under the recovery strategy and action plan. These are expected to result in low costs for government. Fisheries would not be impacted, as the 6 whitefish DUs are not targeted in commercial or recreational fisheries, and there is currently little or no subsistence harvest in Little Teslin and Squanga Lakes. Furthermore, it is expected that FSC fisheries will be permitted, as the primary threat to the species is invasive and other problematic species, not harvest.

Benefits of list and do not list scenarios 

Under the ‘do not list’ management scenario, no incremental actions have been identified. Therefore, no benefits are expected to result.

Under the ‘list’ management scenario, if the level of risk to the populations were to be reduced as a result of listing the DUs as threatened, there could be some incremental increase in Canadians’ non-use benefits associated with the species. Improvement in the population of these DUs will lead to benefits for First Nations as the species holds special significance to the Teslin Tlingit Council, Carcross/Tagish First Nation, and Champagne and Aishihik First Nations. As such, there may be some incremental benefits to the DUs resulting from the SARA list scenario management measures.

Summary

Under the ‘do not list’ scenario, there would be no incremental costs or benefits as no incremental actions have been identified. Under the ‘list’ scenario, costs are expected to be low. Should the activities implemented under a ‘list’ scenario improve the population of the DUs, benefits could accrue.

References

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