A recently published study led by Dr. Julia Baum (MSc’02, PhD (Biology)’08) and Dr. Susanna Fuller (PhD (Biology)’06) demonstrates that endangered and threatened marine fish species in Canada often lack official protection. In fact, the study found that the most vulnerable species are the least likely to receive protection from the federal government.

Once scientists on the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada recommend that a species be listed as at risk, threatened or endangered, the government undergoes a process of public consultation and economic impact assessment before deciding whether to accept the recommendation. Drs. Baum and Fuller found that species declared as endangered or threatened by the committee’s scientists often fail to obtain protection under Canada’s Species At Risk Act or Fisheries Act.

The study found that of the 62 fish species determined at risk of extinction since 2003, only twelve have been listed by the government as protected species. Sixty percent still await government approval. The Atlantic cod was determined to be endangered in 2010, but is still pending protection under the Species At Risk Act, while fishing quotas for the species have grown.

Read more in “Canada sidesteps protection of endangered fish, study finds” on cbc.ca.