Deepwater sculpin (Myoxocephalus thompsonii), various populations: chapter 12

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Existing Protection or Other Status Designations

The Global, National (US and Canada), and Subnational (State and Provincial) ranks for deepwater sculpin are given in the technical summaries.

The deepwater sculpin was designated by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) as Threatened within the Great Lakes region in 1987, due in most part to its decline in Lake Ontario. It is under Schedule 2 (Threatened) of SARA. The national rank is N4 meaning the species is apparently secure in Canada (NatureServe 2005).

The deepwater sculpin is given a rank of S5 (secure) or S4 (apparently secure) in Saskatchewan and Ontario, respectively. In Manitoba, the deepwater sculpin is considered imperiled to vulnerable (S2S3), while they are considered imperiled to critically imperiled in Quebec (S1S2). Alberta has given the deepwater sculpin a rank of S1 (critically imperiled). The deepwater sculpin has not been ranked in the Northwest Territories (NatureServe 2005).

In the United States, the deepwater sculpin is given a national rank of secure (N5) in 1996. It is given a subnational rank of S5 (secure) or S4 (apparently secure) in Michigan (S5), Indiana (S4), and Wisconsin (S4). New York considers deepwater sculpin to be critically imperilled (S1). Pennsylvania has given the deepwater sculpin a rank of SX (considered extirpated with little likelihood of rediscovery). Deepwater sculpin in Minnesota and Ohio have not been given a rank (SNR) (NatureServe 2005).

Sections of the Federal Fisheries Act, Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, Canadian Environmental Protection Act, and Canada Water Act may also generally protect the deepwater sculpin and/or its habitat. In provinces and the Northwest Territories, the deepwater sculpin is protected under several Environmental Assessment Acts, Environmental Protection Acts and other legislation pertaining to threatened or vulnerable species. Populations found in Upper Waterton Lake in Waterton Lakes National Park are partially protected under the National Parks Act.