Twelve at risk aquatic species under new protection Act of Canada

According to the release the animals under the new protections act include Rocky Mountain Sculpin (Westslope), Mountain Sucker (Pacific), Mountain Sucker (Milk River), Dolly Varden (Western Arctic), Redside Dace, Harbour Seal (Lac des Loups Marins subsp.), Loggerhead Sea Turtle, Leatherback Sea Turtle (Atlantic), Leatherback Sea Turtle (Pacific), Beluga (St. Lawrence Estuary), Beluga (Cumberland Sound), Atlantic Mud-Piddock.

Dominic LeBlanc adds, “The actions taken by the Government of Canada to protect these vulnerable species demonstrate our commitment to nurturing Canada’s wildlife and biodiversity. We promised to respond quickly to the advice of scientists, and today’s announcement demonstrates that we will follow through on that promise.”

Experts say that decisions to protect species under the Act were based on assessments by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) and other scientific advice.

Experts also added, “Decisions are also informed and guided by extensive consultations with the public, communities, Indigenous groups and industry. Science advice is a key component of the decision, as are the potential socio-economic impacts on Canadians and their communities.”

However, species at Risk Public Registry states that the Act “is a result of the implementation of the Canadian Biodiversity Strategy, which is in response to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. The Act provides federal legislation to prevent wildlife species from becoming extinct and to provide for their recovery.”

Species at Risk Public Registry adds, “The purposes of the Act are to prevent Canadian indigenous species, subspecies, and distinct populations from becoming extirpated or extinct, to provide for the recovery of endangered or threatened species, and encourage the management of other species to prevent them from becoming at risk.”

(Reporting By Asha Bajaj)