Canadian species at risk (2006–2008), with particular emphasis on fishes

摘要

Abstract: In accordance with the Species at Risk Act (SARA), the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife innCanada (COSEWIC) is nationally responsible for assessing wildlife species considered to be at risk of extinction. A parlia-nmentary review of SARA provides impetus for an up-to-date summary of recent assessments (2006–2008) and a spatiotem-nporal analysis of the status of Canada’s largest vertebrate group of species at risk, fishes. From April 1978 throughnDecember 2008, COSEWIC had assessed 13 wildlife species as extinct and 564 at some level of risk (extirpated, endan-ngered, threatened, special concern). Among these 577 assessments, 112 are for fishes (76% freshwater and diadromous;n24% marine). Slightly more than one-quarter (27%) of Canada’s 205 freshwater and diadromous species of fishes, manynof which are in southwestern Ontario and southeastern Quebec, have been assessed as being at risk throughout all or partsnof their ranges. The percentage of Canadian freshwater and diadromous fish species assessed by COSEWIC as endangerednor threatened (16%) is similar to the percentage of freshwater and diadromous fishes in the US that have been listed undernthe Endangered Species Act (12%). The proportion of wholly freshwater fishes assessed by COSEWIC that have beennadded to SARA’s legal schedule is somewhat lower than that of other taxa. However, whereas the US listed its first ma-nrine fish in 2005, the Canadian government has to date not accepted COSEWIC’s advice to list an endangered or threat-nened marine fish since the proclamation of SARA in 2003.