Anticosta Aster, Blanding’s Turtle, Golden-eye Lichen, Monarch Butterfly, Evening Grosbeak, Caribou and more…
The federal government is seeking public input on a list of 45 species that are being considered for classification or re-classification under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). The goal of SARA is to prevent endangered or threatened wildlife from becoming extinct or lost from the wild, and to help in the recovery of these species. The Act is also intended to manage species of special concern and to prevent them from becoming endangered or threatened
It is proposed that 21 species be added to Schedule 1 of the Act, 11 be reclassified, 12 would have a change made to how they are defined, and one would be referred back to COSEWIC for further evaluation. Final listing decisions for all 45 species are expected by August of 2018.
CSEB members; here’s an opportunity to provide your informed opinion. Are you a teacher of biology? Perhaps this would be a good class project.
The deadline for public comment to the federal government is May 22, 2018 for terrestrial species undergoing normal consultations and October 22, 2018 for terrestrial species undergoing extended consultations. For more information, visit the federal website at
http://registrelep-sararegistry.gc.ca/document/default_e.cfm?documentID=3200
I have been a concerned person in the area marine environment for many years (60) since I was a young person. I was young and carefree and lucky enough to have a relative who had a Coho fishing guiding service in the Pender Harbour area during the 1960’s and 70’s. Away we went, a small crowd of youngsters on board an old semi-obsolete salmon troller (double-ender, single-cylinder engine), to jig for herring. Successfully. And then we had live bait to go mooching for Coho salmon with live herring.
The herring balls are few and far between now in many of the local areas where they used to spawn in great numbers. The herring, as almost anyone with any knowledge and\or concern knows, that herring are one of the few absolutely KEY species in the West coastal environment. In many areas there is no local spawn anymore. As a Saltspring island resident I was surprised and gratified by a tiny local spawn between Saltspring and Vancouver island around 2014 or 2015. As one of the chiefs of the Penelekaut told me, that is now an oddity as Georgia Strait or Salish Sea spawning of herring is now an anomalous occurence. What a tragedy and a shame on our mismanagement of this environment.
The industrial fishing, especially the roe fishery in the Gulf of Georgia should cease immediately. The enrichment of the owner of most of the leased herring boat
fleet should not deserve any consideration at all in this regard. Nor should the employment of the fishermen so engaged. The commercial and employment advantage gained by this fishery is miniscule compared to the potential revenues and employment of a vibrant ecology and environment.
I am surprised that some sort of Greenpeace action has not resulted by the inaction of DOFO. That would be a disastrous kettle of fish.
Dale Thorson
Saltspring Island