Missing the Safety Net: How Canada is failing to protect its marine fish species at risk

MISSING THE SAFETY NET How Canada is failing to protect its at-risk marine fish species Canada's oceans contain many marine fish populations that are at risk of disappearing from our waters, yet many continue to be fished Atlantic Canada has twice as many Most marine fish species that are at-risk of extinction are under consideration at-risk marine fish species as the Pacific for protection under the SPECIES AT RISK ACT, with no decision yet made 21 19.3% LISTED species 42 59.7% AWAITING DECISION 21% DENIED species The average time these at-risk species spend under consideration for listing is 34 YEARS During which time, there is no requirement for additional measures to be put into place to ensure the species doesn't decline further 2012 2013 2014 Marine fish species that are more at risk of disappearing are actually less likely to be listed under the SPECIES AT RISK ACT ENDANGERED THREATENED SPECIAL CONCERN 11% DENIED 25% LISTED 40% LISTED 75% DENIED 60% DENIED 89% LISTED More at risk Less at risk Unless listed under the SPECIES AT RISK ACT, endangered and threatened marine fish species are not required to be managed any differently than species that aren't at risk. The most at-risk marine fish species that were not listed only received of the possible FISHERIES ACT 50-54% management measures which could be implemented prevent further declines. OUR FISH DESERVE BETTER. WE CAN DO MORE TO PROTECT THEM. J.M. McDevitt-Irwin, S.D. Fuller, C. Grant, and J.K. Baum. 2015. Missing the safety net: evidence for inconsistent and insufficient management of at-risk marine fishes in Canada. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 72(10). doi:10.1139/cjfas-2015-0030. LLUniversity LEARN MORE: WwW.ECOLOGYACTION.CA/SAFETYNET O of Victoria Ecology Action Centre