Meeting of Wildlife Ministers

Minister Chevrette launches Québec's Copper Redhorse Contingency Plan

Québec, September 22, 1999 – On the occasion of the first meeting of the canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council held today in Québec City, the Minister of Transports, Minister for Native Affairs and Minister for Wildlife and Parks, Guy Chevrette, made public the 1999-2003 Québec Copper Redhorse Contingency Plan.

Minister Chevrette explained, "The Plan confirms once more Québec's intention and real determination to safeguard this fish species, a vital link in the aquatic environment's equilibrium. The survival of the copper redhorse is still cause for concern despite actions taken to date. In addition to work already accomplished, therefore, it is necessary to take more measures to re-establish this species unique to Québec and avoid its disappearance in the short or mid term."

The Copper Red horse Contingency Plan is a five-year plan in keeping with the work carried out under the St. Lawrence Vision 2000 agreement. It contains a series of 40 actions which focus on the following three main objectives:

• increase copper redhorse recruitment in the Richelieu River;

• establish a population in areas other than those already occupied by the species;

• improve habitat conditions by reducing contaminant discharges and sediment inputs in its environment.

The copper redhorse, it should be recalled, has been legally designated as an endangered species owing to its limited distribution, low density and increasingly scarce populations.

This big fish of the Catostomidae family is found only in a small number of the St. Lawrence River valley's major rivers. The world's two only know copper redhorse spawning sites are both located in the Richelieu River, at Chambly and at Saint-Ours.

The rivers draining the most populated region in Québec are home to the copper redhorse. Their deterioration, their contamination in recent decades, increased eutrophication and sedimentation due to intense farming, and fragmentation of habitat by dam constructions are the major causes for the decline of the species which suffers from a low reproduction rate.

The counter these phenomena, some of the actions in the Québec Copper Redhorse Contingency Plan propose strategies for optimizing in situ reproduction of the species, supporting population development, improving knowledge about habitats, reducing impacts from pollution affecting the fish's feeding or reproduction grounds as well as strenghtening official protection measures.

"If we make up for its low reproduction, protect the sites essential to its survival and improve the quality of its habitat, we should be able to maintain this species, the worldwide responsibility of which lies with Québec," Minister Chevrette concluded.

Note: The 1999-2003 Québec Copper Redhorse Contingency Plan is available in French only on the Internet at:

http://www.menv.gouv.qc.ca/biodiversite/especes/chevalier.htm

(Également offert en français)