Latest news with #COSEWIC
Hamilton Spectator
13-06-2025
- Science
- Hamilton Spectator
BC's sunflower sea stars are now endangered, but rays of hope remain
Sunflower sea stars clinging to life in BC's cold-water fjords are officially on the edge of extinction, a scientific advisory panel is warning. A once-abundant predator of the sea floor along the Pacific coast, stretching from Alaska to Baja California, Pycnopodia helianthoides, has been assessed as endangered by the federal Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). While disheartening, the decision isn't unexpected and could offer a margin of hope for the survival of the massive, vibrant sea star, said Alyssa Gehman, marine ecologist with the Hakai Institute. The only type of its genus, an adult sunflower star Pycnopodia (which comes in a variety of purple, orange or pinks) is one of the largest, fastest sea stars in the ocean, often reaching a metre wide with 16 to 24 arms. It has 15,000 tube feet that suspend it off the seafloor and allow it to move more than a metre per minute when on the prowl for prey, Gehman said. 'They kind of look like a hovercraft moving towards their food.' The species has suffered catastrophic population declines of 80 to 90 per cent in the last decade due to a marine epidemic known as sea star wasting disease that causes white lesions on the many-armed creatures before rapidly reducing them to mush. The wasting syndrome surfaced in 2013 along with spiking ocean temperatures caused by climate change, Gehman said. The disease attacks other types of sea stars as well, but it's decimated the sunflower variety, pushing them into virtual extinction in California and Mexican waters. Pockets of sunflower sea stars have found some refuge from the disease tucked away in the deep, cold inlets of the BC central coast, Gehman said. However, those remaining populations aren't immune to outbreaks and their chances of survival remain fragile. 'While [being endangered] is clearly bad news, the silver lining is that COSEWIC's acknowledgment might finally generate momentum to save Pycnopodia — whether that's in the form of funding, policy changes, or conservation programs,' Gehman said. The federal ministry of the environment and climate change will examine the committee's report in the fall to consider protecting the sunflower sea star under Canada's Species at Risk Act (SARA). It's illegal to kill, harm or capture wildlife listed under the act. Identifying critical habitat and devising a recovery strategy, complete with timelines and outcomes, is also required for a protected species. 'I hope it's a speedy process because there's real urgency,' Gehman said. 'From a conservation perspective, even though we have these really amazing refuge populations that give us a lot of hope, they're not stable … So, the more we can learn about what is happening with them, the more that can help us to try and conserve the species.' The sunflower sea stars are carnivores that play an important role in ocean health, said Gehman. Their primary prey is sea urchins which, if left unchecked by predators, can mow down kelp forests that offer food and shelter for lots of different marine life. Gehman and other researchers are monitoring between six and 12 fjords to pinpoint the conditions that offer sunflower sea stars the most protection against the disease. Water chilled and churned up by Arctic winter winds channelled into the inlets seems to buffer the impacts, she said. In warmer weather, glacial melt creates a freshwater surface layer in the fjords. Since Pycnopodia don't like fresh water, the sea stars move deeper into saltier, colder water layers, which appears to slow but not completely prevent outbreaks, Gehman said. Typically, sunflower stars in other areas of the coast prefer water temperatures around 16 C. But now it appears that water temperatures must be less than 12 C to limit the spread of the pathogen. 'The disease is actually changing what temperature would be best for them,' Gehman said. The sea stars haven't adapted quickly enough to the disease to consistently avoid warmer waters, which makes understanding the factors at play in their cold-water hideouts critical for their survival, she said. Research is taking place south of the border to breed sunflower sea stars that are more resistant to the wasting disease, so they can potentially be released into the wild to repopulate marine areas. In future, Gehman wants to study other kinds of sea stars — like the purple or orange ochre sea stars on the West Coast— that have better withstood the withering disease in a bid for clues scientists could use to help out their much larger cousins. Identifying and protecting coastal fjords that offer the best conditions for sunflower sea stars is also an important step. Although the Pycnopodia situation is grave, Gehman says she recently experienced a rare and magical moment when the research team witnessed a massive spawning event involving 20 to 30 sea stars, while surveying one of the fjords. 'It's absolutely wild,' Gehman said, The sunflower sea stars have pores that circle the centre of their body. The marine creatures stretch upward on extended arms and arch their bodies, with females releasing masses of pinkish eggs while males emit white clouds of sperm. 'Only the tips of their arms are on the bottom with their middle body tented up into the water column,' she said. 'There were some absolutely giant animals. It kind of looks like there's a halo of pores on them, and everything is pouring out into the water — it's really surreal.' The spawning event is a hopeful sign these cold-water strongholds can offer the endangered species some measure of resiliency from climate change and disease, she said. But the situation remains tenuous and variable, said Gehman, noting on the same trip researchers found sunflower sea stars had been wiped out in one inlet but had bounced back in another. 'So, scientifically, we're learning a lot while also being sad,' she said. Rochelle Baker/Local Journalism Initiative/Canada's National Observer Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
National Observer
10-06-2025
- Science
- National Observer
BC's sunflower sea stars are now endangered, but rays of hope remain
Sunflower sea stars clinging to life in BC's cold-water fjords are officially on the edge of extinction, a scientific advisory panel is warning. A once-abundant predator of the sea floor along the Pacific coast, stretching from Alaska to Baja California, Pycnopodia helianthoides, has been assessed as endangered by the federal Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). While disheartening, the decision isn't unexpected and could offer a margin of hope for the survival of the massive, vibrant sea star, said Alyssa Gehman, marine ecologist with the Hakai Institute. The only type of its genus, an adult sunflower star Pycnopodia (which comes in a variety of purple, orange or pinks) is one of the largest, fastest sea stars in the ocean, often reaching a metre wide with 16 to 24 arms. It has 15,000 tube feet that suspend it off the seafloor and allow it to move more than a metre per minute when on the prowl for prey, Gehman said. 'They kind of look like a hovercraft moving towards their food.' The species has suffered catastrophic population declines of 80 to 90 per cent in the last decade due to a marine epidemic known as sea star wasting disease that causes white lesions on the many-armed creatures before rapidly reducing them to mush. Sunflower sea stars clinging to life in BC's cold-water fjords are officially on the edge of extinction, a Canadian scientific advisory panel warns. The wasting syndrome surfaced in 2013 along with spiking ocean temperatures caused by climate change, Gehman said. The disease attacks other types of sea stars as well, but it's decimated the sunflower variety, pushing them into virtual extinction in California and Mexican waters. Pockets of sunflower sea stars have found some refuge from the disease tucked away in the deep, cold inlets of the BC central coast, Gehman said. However, those remaining populations aren't immune to outbreaks and their chances of survival remain fragile. 'While [being endangered] is clearly bad news, the silver lining is that COSEWIC's acknowledgment might finally generate momentum to save Pycnopodia — whether that's in the form of funding, policy changes, or conservation programs,' Gehman said. The federal ministry of the environment and climate change will examine the committee's report in the fall to consider protecting the sunflower sea star under Canada's Species at Risk Act (SARA). It's illegal to kill, harm or capture wildlife listed under the act. Identifying critical habitat and devising a recovery strategy, complete with timelines and outcomes, is also required for a protected species. 'I hope it's a speedy process because there's real urgency,' Gehman said. 'From a conservation perspective, even though we have these really amazing refuge populations that give us a lot of hope, they're not stable … So, the more we can learn about what is happening with them, the more that can help us to try and conserve the species.' The sunflower sea stars are carnivores that play an important role in ocean health, said Gehman. Their primary prey is sea urchins which, if left unchecked by predators, can mow down kelp forests that offer food and shelter for lots of different marine life. Gehman and other researchers are monitoring between six and 12 fjords to pinpoint the conditions that offer sunflower sea stars the most protection against the disease. Water chilled and churned up by Arctic winter winds channelled into the inlets seems to buffer the impacts, she said. In warmer weather, glacial melt creates a freshwater surface layer in the fjords. Since Pycnopodia don't like fresh water, the sea stars move deeper into saltier, colder water layers, which appears to slow but not completely prevent outbreaks, Gehman said. Typically, sunflower stars in other areas of the coast prefer water temperatures around 16 C. But now it appears that water temperatures must be less than 12 C to limit the spread of the pathogen. 'The disease is actually changing what temperature would be best for them,' Gehman said. The sea stars haven't adapted quickly enough to the disease to consistently avoid warmer waters, which makes understanding the factors at play in their cold-water hideouts critical for their survival, she said. Research is taking place south of the border to breed sunflower sea stars that are more resistant to the wasting disease, so they can potentially be released into the wild to repopulate marine areas. In future, Gehman wants to study other kinds of sea stars — like the purple or orange ochre sea stars on the West Coast— that have better withstood the withering disease in a bid for clues scientists could use to help out their much larger cousins. Identifying and protecting coastal fjords that offer the best conditions for sunflower sea stars is also an important step. Although the Pycnopodia situation is grave, Gehman says she recently experienced a rare and magical moment when the research team witnessed a massive spawning event involving 20 to 30 sea stars, while surveying one of the fjords. 'It's absolutely wild,' Gehman said, The sunflower sea stars have pores that circle the centre of their body. The marine creatures stretch upward on extended arms and arch their bodies, with females releasing masses of pinkish eggs while males emit white clouds of sperm. 'Only the tips of their arms are on the bottom with their middle body tented up into the water column,' she said. 'There were some absolutely giant animals. It kind of looks like there's a halo of pores on them, and everything is pouring out into the water — it's really surreal.' The spawning event is a hopeful sign these cold-water strongholds can offer the endangered species some measure of resiliency from climate change and disease, she said. But the situation remains tenuous and variable, said Gehman, noting on the same trip researchers found sunflower sea stars had been wiped out in one inlet but had bounced back in another. 'So, scientifically, we're learning a lot while also being sad,' she said.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Snowy owl labelled threatened by expert group — and humans are primarily to blame
The snowy owl, Quebec's majestic avian emblem and Harry Potter's iconic companion, is at risk of becoming endangered if action isn't taken to reverse the threats to its survival, an independent advisory panel has concluded. This week, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) classified the species as threatened in the country. While the expert group has made this designation, the governments of Canada and Quebec have yet to officially recognize this status. The Ecomuseum Zoo in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Que., sounded the alarm this week, calling on the provincial government to act swiftly. "Alarm bells should be ringing in Quebec," wrote the zoo in a statement sent to CBC. David Rodrigue, the zoo's executive director, pointed to a range of factors behind the snowy owl's decline — many of them human-caused. "We should all take it as a wake-up call and really start looking at what it really means to try and change the current trends in global warming," he said. Snowy owls rely heavily on lemmings as a food source — a small rodent species also in decline, said Rodrigue. Lemmings survive the winter by digging tunnels through the snow to feed on grasses and mosses. But with more rain events in the winter, the snow cover in the Arctic becomes more icy and solid, making it difficult for lemmings to dig. This leads to malnourishment, population crashes and ultimately, impacts on snowy owl populations, whose numbers aren't recovering naturally due to the persistence of these environmental pressures, added Rodrigue. And the owl doesn't just face problems up north. Rodrigue noted that many of them migrate south in winter — reaching areas like Montreal and the South Shore — where they often die after eating rodents that have been poisoned by rodenticides used in agriculture. "What's happening now is we're pulling out, so to speak, species one by one. And there is a point where ecosystems don't function anymore without a certain number of species in there," said Rodrigue, comparing the ecosystem to a game of Jenga. "You can pull [pieces] out for a long time and [the tower] stands. But at one point, you pull one out, everything collapses. That's how we're linked." Over 40% decline in population COSEWIC is an independent advisory body to Canada's Environment and Climate Change Ministry (ECCC). It includes wildlife biology experts from government organizations, non-governmental groups, academia and the private sector. Louise Blight, co-chair of COSEWIC's bird specialist sub-committee, said the designation was based on a population decline over three generations — which corresponds to around 24 years. "Over that period of time, the snowy owl has been seen to decline by over 40 per cent. That means it meets the criteria for threatened," she said. "Canadians and non-Canadians should be concerned about the status of snowy owls." The committee has recommended that the federal government add the bird to Canada's list of threatened species. Blight identified several other threats contributing to the decline, including sea ice loss, electrocution and avian influenza. To address the crisis, Blight suggests more responsible approaches to rodent control, environmentally friendly agricultural practices, avian flu mitigation efforts and action on climate change. In a statement, the ECCC stated that the committee is expected to submit its assessment in the fall of 2025. "Following this step, the minister must post a response statement to the Species at Risk Public Registry within 90 days. This initiates a consultation process," read the statement. Hit by cars, caught in power lines Guy Fitzgerald, a clinician at the Université de Montréal's birds of prey clinic who participated in the committee's discussions, said snowy owls are not used to human threats. "We see lots of snowy owls hit by cars, they can hit power lines," he said, adding they hunt near roads and airports because small rodents are easier to catch where there's no vegetation. One snowy owl was brought to his clinic after being rescued by a bird watcher. It had been tangled in a barbed wire fence, and one of its wings was severely injured. "Its whole wing was amputated. It's a bird that will end its days in a refuge or a zoological institution," Fitzgerald said. He noted that the clinic's goal is to release birds of prey back into the wild. In this case, it wasn't explained that snowy owls often don't see fences when flying low to hunt and that they're among the species that have been hit by gunshots over the past three decades, emphasizing the need for greater public education. "We have to take care of them, but we have to consider them as an ecological service," he said, highlighting that snowy owls can help regulate other animal populations. "More and more, we understand that the fragile equilibrium is dependent on the biodiversity." Not enough data collected in Quebec According to Rodrigue, there isn't enough data being collected on the snowy owl in Quebec and the national decline in the species likely reflects a similar trend within the province. "It's fairly obvious, scientifically speaking, that it's already happening here," he said. Still, he noted that the snowy owl isn't even labelled as a species that is susceptible of being threatened or endangered in the province. Following the committee's classification, Quebec's Environment Ministry told CBC it will evaluate the status of the species based on available data. Rodrigue sees this designation as a perfect opportunity for the provincial government to move forward, and faster. "That big rock that we live on … we're basically borrowing it from our children and we're going to have to give it back at some point," he said. "We might as well make sure that we give it back in working condition."
CBC
24-05-2025
- Science
- CBC
Snowy owl labelled threatened by expert group — and humans are primarily to blame
The snowy owl, Quebec's majestic avian emblem and Harry Potter's iconic companion, is at risk of becoming endangered if action isn't taken to reverse the threats to its survival, an independent advisory panel has concluded. This week, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) classified the species as threatened in the country. While the expert group has made this designation, the governments of Canada and Quebec have yet to officially recognize this status. The Ecomuseum Zoo in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Que., sounded the alarm this week, calling on the provincial government to act swiftly. "Alarm bells should be ringing in Quebec," wrote the zoo in a statement sent to CBC. David Rodrigue, the zoo's executive director, pointed to a range of factors behind the snowy owl's decline — many of them human-caused. "We should all take it as a wake-up call and really start looking at what it really means to try and change the current trends in global warming," he said. Snowy owls rely heavily on lemmings as a food source — a small rodent species also in decline, said Rodrigue. Lemmings survive the winter by digging tunnels through the snow to feed on grasses and mosses. But with more rain events in the winter, the snow cover in the Arctic becomes more icy and solid, making it difficult for lemmings to dig. This leads to malnourishment, population crashes and ultimately, impacts on snowy owl populations, whose numbers aren't recovering naturally due to the persistence of these environmental pressures, added Rodrigue. And the owl doesn't just face problems up north. Rodrigue noted that many of them migrate south in winter — reaching areas like Montreal and the South Shore — where they often die after eating rodents that have been poisoned by rodenticides used in agriculture. "What's happening now is we're pulling out, so to speak, species one by one. And there is a point where ecosystems don't function anymore without a certain number of species in there," said Rodrigue, comparing the ecosystem to a game of Jenga. "You can pull [pieces] out for a long time and [the tower] stands. But at one point, you pull one out, everything collapses. That's how we're linked." Over 40% decline in population COSEWIC is an independent advisory body to Canada's Environment and Climate Change Ministry (ECCC). It includes wildlife biology experts from government organizations, non-governmental groups, academia and the private sector. Louise Blight, co-chair of COSEWIC's bird specialist sub-committee, said the designation was based on a population decline over three generations — which corresponds to around 24 years. "Over that period of time, the snowy owl has been seen to decline by over 40 per cent. That means it meets the criteria for threatened," she said. "Canadians and non-Canadians should be concerned about the status of snowy owls." The committee has recommended that the federal government add the bird to Canada's list of threatened species. Blight identified several other threats contributing to the decline, including sea ice loss, electrocution and avian influenza. To address the crisis, Blight suggests more responsible approaches to rodent control, environmentally friendly agricultural practices, avian flu mitigation efforts and action on climate change. In a statement, the ECCC stated that the committee is expected to submit its assessment in the fall of 2025. "Following this step, the minister must post a response statement to the Species at Risk Public Registry within 90 days. This initiates a consultation process," read the statement. Hit by cars, caught in power lines Guy Fitzgerald, a clinician at the Université de Montréal's birds of prey clinic who participated in the committee's discussions, said snowy owls are not used to human threats. "We see lots of snowy owls hit by cars, they can hit power lines," he said, adding they hunt near roads and airports because small rodents are easier to catch where there's no vegetation. One snowy owl was brought to his clinic after being rescued by a bird watcher. It had been tangled in a barbed wire fence, and one of its wings was severely injured. "Its whole wing was amputated. It's a bird that will end its days in a refuge or a zoological institution," Fitzgerald said. He noted that the clinic's goal is to release birds of prey back into the wild. In this case, it wasn't possible. WATCH | Inside the clinic that treated the injured owl: The snowy owl, Quebec's official bird, labelled a threatened species by expert group 4 minutes ago Duration 2:09 The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada says the snowy owl population has gone down by more than 40 per cent in 24 years. He explained that snowy owls often don't see fences when flying low to hunt and that they're among the species that have been hit by gunshots over the past three decades, emphasizing the need for greater public education. "We have to take care of them, but we have to consider them as an ecological service," he said, highlighting that snowy owls can help regulate other animal populations. "More and more, we understand that the fragile equilibrium is dependent on the biodiversity." Not enough data collected in Quebec According to Rodrigue, there isn't enough data being collected on the snowy owl in Quebec and the national decline in the species likely reflects a similar trend within the province. "It's fairly obvious, scientifically speaking, that it's already happening here," he said. Still, he noted that the snowy owl isn't even labelled as a species that is susceptible of being threatened or endangered in the province. Following the committee's classification, Quebec's Environment Ministry told CBC it will evaluate the status of the species based on available data. Rodrigue sees this designation as a perfect opportunity for the provincial government to move forward, and faster. "That big rock that we live on … we're basically borrowing it from our children and we're going to have to give it back at some point," he said. "We might as well make sure that we give it back in working condition."
CBC
22-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Paqtnkek fishers call for unity in Mi'kmaw nation to address elver fishing
Social Sharing Often the first meal given to babies transitioning from their mother's milk and the final meal for elders making their journey to the spirit world, the eel has significance in the Mi'kmaw culture. Kerry Prosper, an elder and councillor from Paqtnkek Mi'kmaw Nation, roughly 240 km northeast of Halifax, is among those concerned for the future of the eels with the surge in elver (baby eel) fishing. There's been increased Mi'kmaw involvement in the industry, but not all Mi'kmaw fishers support elver harvesting. "People need to make a living but we have to really decide how we're going to make a living and what are the consequences to our seven generations, your grandchildren, your great grandchildren," said Prosper. Prosper harvests eels for family and community members, and describes them as a dependable food source for the Mi'kmaw nation, especially in times of food scarcity. The American Eel was assessed as threatened by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) in 2012 but has yet to be listed for protection under the Species At Risk Act. According to COSEWIC's 2012 assessment, the eels face multiple threats: dams acting as barriers to spawning habitat, hydroelectric turbine-related deaths, habitat degradation and parasites. "When you see that happening and you see the collapse of the large eel fishery from commercial fishing and you see the introduction of a baby eel fishery right at the collapse… what's it gonna do and how can you define conservation in that kind of a fishery?" said Prosper. Prosper's appreciation for eel is tied to a place where he has memories of spearing eel – Welneg or "beautiful bay" in Pomquet Harbour just outside Paqtnkek. It was at this spot that Prosper gave permission to Donald Marshall Jr. to fish in 1993 and where he was charged for fishing and selling eels without a licence, leading to over six years of litigation. The Supreme Court of Canada's Sparrow decision in 1990 confirmed that Indigenous people have a constitutional right to fish for food, social and ceremonial purposes. "Donald was thinking, what is social? Can we fish for our communities? Can we trade it? Can we sell it?" said Prosper. "Our treaty said we could and so he was selling eels." The Supreme Court ultimately ruled in his favour in 1999, affirming the Mi'kmaw right under the Peace and Friendship treaties to hunt, fish and gather in the pursuit of a "moderate livelihood." The decision also implicated the Wolastoqiyik and the Peskotomuhkati. Following this decision, the federal government introduced fisheries initiatives for First Nations in the Atlantic provinces, offering equipment, training and regulated access in exchange for federal oversight of the moderate livelihood fisheries. While many Mi'kmaw communities now engage in these federally managed fisheries, others continue to assert their treaty rights independently – particularly in lobster and more recently elver fishing. Prosper said he's proud to see Mi'kmaq exercising their rights but cautions that a unified approach between communities is needed, especially when harvesting a threatened species like eel. "Think about netukulimk, our connection to all of life here, and etuaptmumk, or two-eyed seeing," he said. "I see [the words] in their management plans, but I don't see it in their mind. I don't see it in their heart." Population decline Prosper has passed his teachings on harvesting and respecting eels to his family and his community, Paqtnkek, the only Mi'kmaw community in Nova Scotia choosing not to be involved with the elver fishery. His grandson, Kaeden Prosper, 20, shares this concern. "Eels…they're everything," said Kaeden Prosper. "I grew up fishing them my whole life. It's something I hold dear to my heart." Kaeden Prosper remembers how as a seven-year-old he'd go out on the ice and catch five to 10 eels per hole. He said now after a full day of fishing he's lucky to come home with maybe five eels. "Seeing the population decline, it hurts my heart," he said. "It makes me concerned for my kids." He said his grandfather's generation didn't have the privilege to grow up with acknowledged moderate livelihood rights the way he did. "That right was recognized by eels," he said. "It was eels that brought our rights back, and then here you are abusing that same animal that brought those rights back." Both Kaeden and his grandfather recognize the economic pressures many Mi'kmaw families are facing and say they understand why some have entered the lucrative fishery. But Kerry Prosper said he hopes to see Mi'kmaw communities come together on a shared vision for the future. "[Mi'kmaq] have to go all in together in exercising our treaty rights and respecting them and managing them," he said. "We've got to be a nation."
