List of Wildlife Species at Risk (Decision Not to Add the Striped Bass) Order: SI/2026-61

Canada Gazette, Part II, Volume 160, Number 22

Registration
SI/2026-61 November 4, 2026

SPECIES AT RISK ACT

List of Wildlife Species at Risk (Decision Not to Add the Striped Bass) Order

P.C. 2026-1017 October 23, 2026

Her Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of the Environment, under subsections 27(1.1) and (1.2) of the Species at Risk Act footnote a,

ANNEX

Statement Setting Out the Reasons for the Decision Not to Add the Striped Bass Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence Population to the List of Wildlife Species at Risk

Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis) Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence Population

The Minister of the Environment has recommended, on the advice of the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, that the Striped Bass Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence population not be added to the List of Wildlife Species at Risk (the “List”) set out in Schedule 1 to the Species at Risk Act (“SARA”).

Scientific advice provided through the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada’s (“COSEWIC”) 2012 Assessment and Status Report for Striped Bass indicated that the main threats to the species were linked to fishing activities, i.e., bycatch and illegal fishing, both of which are being addressed. The current management regime, described below, has promoted an improvement of the population abundance. Furthermore, the addition of this species to the List would not have results that are significantly different from the results of the current management regime or enhance protection measures to manage the main threats faced by the species. The non-listing option received support from the majority of the provinces, Indigenous organizations and potentially impacted stakeholders who responded during consultations.

Conservation management measures implemented since the mid-1990’s, including the closure of fisheries for 13 years, have resulted in population gains and common occurrence of the species throughout this population’s range. The population has been estimated at 547,300 spawners in 2025. This is a significant increase in abundance from the low indices of the late 1990s. This population of Striped Bass is currently distributed widely and abundantly throughout its historical range from the GaspĂ© Peninsula to Cape Breton Island.

Since the COSEWIC assessment and status report were published in 2012, evidence gathered by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (“DFO”) indicates that the Striped Bass Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence population has sustained higher spawner abundance. Conservation management measures implemented since the mid-1990s, including the closure of the commercial fishery in 1996 and the 13-year closure of food, social and ceremonial and recreational fisheries, have resulted in consistent increases in abundance over the last three generations. The population is assessed annually and is currently in the cautious zone as identified in the DFO’s Precautionary Approach Framework.

Not listing is recommended because listing under SARA would not significantly result in different or enhanced protection measures for this population of Striped Bass. Although listing would incur minimal cost to Canadians, it would create an undue administrative burden for its management. Unlike other populations, where a SARA management plan would provide the opportunity for addressing other threats, in this case it would simply require the implementation of the current fisheries management plan, updated yearly.

With a decision not to list this species under SARA, DFO will continue to monitor and manage the population under the Fisheries Act to maintain the population and protect the unique spawning area, while managing a sustainable fishery incorporating the principles of the Precautionary Approach.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order.)

Proposal

The Governor in Council (GIC), on the recommendation of the Minister of the Environment, under subsections 27(1.1) and (1.2) of the Species at Risk Act (SARA or the Act), has decided not to add the Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis) Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence population to the List of Wildlife Species at Risk (the List) set out in Schedule 1 to the Act.

Background

Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis) is a large-bodied anadromous fish of the family Moronidae that spawns in freshwater and grows to maturity in the marine environment. The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) identifies three populations of Striped Bass in Canada: the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence population, the Bay of Fundy population and the St. Lawrence River population. This Order pertains only to the Striped Bass Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence population.

The extent of occurrence of the Striped Bass Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence population is defined by the coastal areas of Percé, Québec (Chaleur Bay) in the northwest; along the eastern shores of New Brunswick to Chéticamp (Cape Breton, Nova Scotia) in the east; and to Prince Edward Island in the north. Its only identified spawning location is in the northwest Miramichi River, New Brunswick.

In 2012, COSEWIC assessed and classified the Striped Bass Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence population as a special concern species because, despite increases in its population, it is known to spawn at only one location and remains susceptible to high rates of poaching and bycatch in legal fisheries.
Since 2017, based on tagged fish captured by commercial and recreational fishers, there is evidence of this population of Striped Bass expanding north of its previously documented distributional range.

Implications

Where the GIC decides not to add a species to the List that has been assessed by COSEWIC as a special concern species, the requirement to prepare a SARA management plan does not apply. The species would continue to be managed using the existing legislative provisions (e.g. the Fisheries Act or the Canada National Parks Act) and non-legislative tools (e.g. government programs, actions by non-governmental organizations, industry and Canadians) that apply to aquatic species.

Rationale

Since the 2012 COSEWIC assessment, the status of the Striped Bass Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence population has improved. The population increased in abundance and distribution following the COSEWIC’s 2004 designation of this population as a threatened species.footnote 1 The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) assesses this stock annually, and it is currently classified within the cautious zone under DFO’s Precautionary Approach Framework, under the Sustainable Fisheries Framework. In 2025, the spawning population was estimated at 547 300 individuals. Since 1996, conservation measures for the stock have included the closure of the commercial fishery, and a 13-year closure of Food, Social and Ceremonial (FSC) and recreational fisheries. These actions have contributed to substantial increases in the population’s abundance. With the improving population numbers, directed recreational fisheries have reopened, FSC fisheries have resumed and a pilot communal commercial fishery has been established. In addition, DFO has been able to provide some quotas for Striped Bass bycatch in lobster fisheries.

The rationale for not listing is that the population has already increased in abundance and distribution, and measures are in place to manage threats and monitor the population going forward. Although listing would incur a minimal cost to Canadians, it would create unnecessary administrative burden on DFO and Parks Canada for its management. Unlike some other species, where a SARA Management Plan would provide the opportunity to fill knowledge gaps and identify and address other threats for the Striped Bass Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence population, the ongoing implementation of an annually updated fisheries management plan under the Fisheries Act has been effective in supporting the recovery of this population and is expected to continue to be an effective management tool.

With a decision not to list this species under SARA, DFO will continue to monitor and manage the population under the Fisheries Act to maintain the population and protect the unique spawning area, while managing a sustainable fishery incorporating the principles of the Precautionary Approach.

Consultation

A public consultation period on the potential listing of the Striped Bass Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence population was held from November 17, 2014, to February 27, 2015, in Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Consultation documents were sent to 254 potentially impacted groups, including the fishing industry, provincial government departments and Indigenous organizations, as well as potentially interested parties (e.g. environmental non-governmental organizations, academics). Public notices advising of the consultation period were published in 13 newspapers, and the consultation materials were posted on the Species at Risk Public Registry. The materials explained, among other things, the reason for the classification, the issue at hand (that a listing decision would be made with respect to the species), and the impacts of listing a species as a special concern species (i.e. that the prohibitions are not engaged, and that a management plan must be prepared). Bilateral meetings were held with four Indigenous groups.

As a significant amount of time had passed since listing consultations were conducted on this population of Striped Bass, consultation check-ins were conducted, from November 9, 2020, to March 15, 2021, with Indigenous groups and key stakeholders seeking confirmation of their positions on the listing. Overall responses remained consistent with the initial consultations.

In general, consultations pointed to considerable opposition to a listing under SARA. The majority of respondents did not support the listing based on the fact that the population is abundant and does not appear to require additional protection measures. Respondents often expressed concerns that the recovery of this top predator may threaten the viability of other fish populations throughout its range, although this theory appears unfounded.

More specifically, 84 responses were received: 16 supported the listing, 42 did not support the listing and 26 did not specify a position.

The Provinces of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island did not specify a position on the listing during the initial consultation. The Province of Nova Scotia supported the listing, while the Province of Quebec was opposed to the listing. During check-ins, New Brunswick supported the listing, while Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Quebec did not respond.

Of the 4 Indigenous organizations that provided responses during initial consultations (2014–2015), 2 did not specify a position and 2 supported the listing. The 2 that supported the listing did not respond during check-ins. Of the 10 associations (of which 7 were environmental non-governmental organizations, and the others an outfitter, a recreational fishing group, and a business involving outfitting, camping and fishing lessons) who provided comments during initial consultations, 2 supported the listing, while 8 did not support the listing. The one fishing industry organization that provided a response supported the listing. Of the 31 anglers who provided responses during initial consultations, 12 did not specify a position, 5 supported the listing, and 14 opposed the listing. Of the 5 guides, 2 did not specify a position, one supported the listing and 2 did not support the listing. The 2 outfitters did not support the listing. Of the 2 small businesses that provided responses, one supported the listing, while the other did not support the listing. Of the 25 responses from the general public, 8 did not specify a position, 3 supported the listing and the remaining 14 did not support the listing.

Supporters of the listing noted that listing as a special concern species would still allow fishing to continue or highlighted the population’s single spawning ground. Those opposed to the listing raised concerns that increases in the Striped Bass population could threaten the viability of other valued species, such as Atlantic salmon, whose smolts are preyed upon by this species. Considering the notable improvement of this population of Striped Bass since COSEWIC’s assessment (2012) and significant opposition from the general public and the fishing industry to SARA listing, the decision not to list the Striped Bass Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence population under SARA was made.

In making the recommendation not to list this population of Striped Bass, the Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature, who is responsible for both Environment and Climate Change Canada and Parks Canada, consulted the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and confirmed that Parks Canada had been consulted in its capacity as the competent authority under the Species at Risk Act.

Contact

Species at Risk Program
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
200 Kent Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0E6
Email: SARA_LEP@dfo-mpo.gc.ca