TUC Comments on Westslope Cutthroat Trout Recovery Strategy and Action Plan

TUC Comments on Proposed Westslope Cutthroat Trout Recovery Strategy and Action Plan-Anyone who has fished some of southwestern Alberta’s beautiful mountain and foothills streams are likely familiar with Cutthroat Trout. They are a beautiful fish characterized by black spots with a red slash under the jaw and they are fun to catch, often eagerly take dry flies. Once abundant throughout foothills streams, today Westslope Cutthroat Trout have a small and declining range that is severely disconnected. They face a variety of historic and current pressures and threats including overharvest, hybridization with non-native Rainbow Trout, and habitat deterioration. Currently, it is estimated that Westslope Cutthroat Trout occupy less than 20% of their historic range.

TUC has been involved in recovery planning and recovery efforts for Westslope Cutthroat Trout for over 10 years. While many advances have been made by the government and other stakeholders (including a better understanding of the species’ distribution and genetics and habitat rehabilitation), there is much work to be done to achieve meaningful recovery.

Recently, the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) released a draft Recovery Strategy – Action Plan (RS-AP) for Westslope Cutthroat Trout. The Action Plan component was initially supposed to have been completed four years ago but has been delayed. Although TUC is pleased that the plan has been completed and is generally supportive of the objectives and strategies outlined in the RS-AP, we urge the provincial and federal government to move forward with immediate implementation of recovery actions. Some of our general feedback to DFO includes:

1. TUC is supportive of the expanded description of critical habitat to include riparian areas and upstream reaches.

2. TUC is concerned the “bounding box” approach to critical habitat will be unclear and afford insufficient protections to Westslope Cutthroat Trout and their habitat.

TUC’s letter can be found here.

Timeline:

1. 2006: the Alberta population of Westslope Cutthroat Trout were assessed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) as Threatened.

2. 2009: Listed as Threatened under the Alberta Wildlife Act

3. 2009: Joint federal/provincial recovery team established to produce recovery strategy (federal) and recovery plan (provincial)

4. 2013: Alberta population listed as Threatened under the Species at Risk Act

5. 2013: Provincial Recovery Plan developed

6. 2014: Federal Recovery Strategy published

7. 2015: Critical Habitat order issued under the Species at Risk Act

8. 2016: Alberta population re-assessed by COSEWIC as Threatened

9. 2019: Proposed Recovery Strategy – Action Plan released for public comment