Open Data

Critical Habitat of Aquatic Species at Risk

Description

Critical habitat is identified for species listed as Endangered or Threatened under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA) and where federal critical habitat protection orders are in effect. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is the responsible authority for the protection, recovery and conservation of all listed aquatic species at risk in Canada. Critical habitat is defined as the habitat that is necessary for the survival or recovery of a listed wildlife species and that is identified as such in the recovery strategy or action plan for the species (https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/species-risk-public-registry.html). SARA makes it illegal to destroy any part of the critical habitat of a listed species and may impose restrictions on development and construction. Species in this layer have federal protection of critical habitat under a Critical Habitat Order pursuant to subsections 58(4) and (5) of SARA, which brings into force the subsection 58(1) prohibition against the destruction of any part of critical habitat. This dataset delineates an area or extent in which the species and its critical habitat may be found. Exterior extent polygons are derived from the detailed data provided in DFO's Fisheries and Oceans Canada Species at Risk dataset, reproduced under the Open Government Licence - Canada. Alberta Environment and Protected Areas Fish and Wildlife Management Information System (FWMIS) Hydrology Arc and Polygons data, and a surrounding larger buffer. This dataset communicates to users the following information: the proximity of aquatic critical habitat. the prohibition against the destruction of any part of aquatic critical habitat. directs users to DFO to ensure compliance with federal legal instruments. and ensures that any activities which may result in the destruction of critical habitat are managed to the extent required under SARA. Users must consult Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Projects Near Water webpage: www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pnw-ppe/index-eng.html. Fisheries Protection Program: FisheriesProtection@dfo-mpo.gc.ca) in relation to the application of the Species at Risk Act and published Critical Habitat Orders (SARA Public Registry).

Updated

August 14, 2024

Tags
-CANADA ALBERTA AQUATIC-ANIMALS AQUATIC-SPECIES BIOTA CRITICAL-HABITAT DIADROMOUS-FISH ENDANGERED-SPECIES ENVIRONMENT FISHERIES-MANAGEMENT FRESHWATER-FISH INLANDWATERS MOLLUSCS PROTECTED-SPECIES SALTWATER-FISH SEA-TURTLES SPECIES-AT-RISK THREATENED-SPECIES WHALES

Title and Dataset Information

Alternative Title

Critical Habitat of Aquatic Species at Risk

Date Modified

2024-08-14

Update Frequency

Irregular

Publisher / Creator Information

Publisher

Environment and Parks

Subject Information

Resource Dates

Date Created

2020-08-04

Date Added to catalogue

2020-04-30T04:12:48.307797

Date Issued

2024-08-01

Date Modified

2024-08-14

Identifiers

Usage / Licence

Contact

Contact Name

Alberta Environment and Protected Areas, Government of Alberta

Contact Email

gavin.berg@gov.ab.ca