Multiple species of freshwater mussel recovery strategy : chapter 17


Appendix 1 – Record of Cooperation and Consultation

Fisheries and Oceans Canada has attempted to engage all potentially affected aboriginal communities in Southern Ontario during the development of the proposed recovery strategy for these five mussel species. Information packages were sent to the Chief and Council of the Chippewas of Kettle and Stoney Point, Aamjiwnaang First Nation, Caldwell First Nation, Delaware Nation Council (Moravian of the Thames First Nation), Chippewas of the Thames, Oneida Nation of the Thames, Munsee-Delaware First Nation, Mississaugas of New Credit First Nation, Six Nations of the Grand, Walpole Island First Nation and the Southern First Nations Secretariat. Information packages were also sent to Metis Nation of Ontario (MNO) Captains of the Hunt for Region 7, 8, and 9 and the MNO senior policy advisor. Members of these communities may have traveled or harvested fish or freshwater mussels from the waters of the Ausable, Sydenham River, Thames River, Grand River, Lake St. Clair or Lake Erie where these mussel species were historically found. Follow-up telephone calls were made to each community office to ensure that packages were received and to ask if they would like to schedule a meeting to learn more about species at risk in general and proposed recovery strategies.

Meetings were held with Oneida Nation of the Thames Councillor for environmental issues, Chief and council of Kettle and Stoney Point First Nation, the environment committee from Aamjiwnaang First Nation, Wapole Island First Nation – Heritage Centre Staff, and a Council meeting of the Metis of Nation of Ontario. No comments have been received.

In addition to the above activities, DFO had established an ongoing dialogue with the policy advisor to the Southern First Nations Secretariat and had engaged the London Chiefs Council (an association of the 8 area First Nation governments in Southwestern Ontario) on several occasions. Meetings were held with the director of the Walpole Island Natural Heritage Centre and the Fish and Game Enforcement Officer from Walpole Island First Nation. Walpole Island First Nation has been represented in the membership of the Ontario Freshwater Mussel Recovery Team since the formation of the recovery team in 2003. DFO also discussed SARA issues with a representative of the Six Nations of the Grand who works for the Six Nations EcoCentre and who also represents First Nation interests on the Grand River Fishes at Risk Management Plan, the Thames River Fish Management Plan and the St. Clair River Management Strategy.

The Ontario Freshwater Mussel Recovery Team had representatives from all of the Conservation Authorities responsible for managing the rivers where these mussels are presently or were historically found. In addition to this, DFO had prepared a list of non-governmental organizations, federal agencies and municipalities which may be impacted by the proposed recovery strategy. Information packages were prepared to inform these groups that the proposed recovery strategy had been drafted, and inviting each group to comment on the strategy. As well an announcement was prepared and placed in newspapers with circulation in the area where these mussels are found to inform landowners and the general public about the strategy and to request their comments. These packages were sent and the announcements published at the time the proposed recovery strategy was posted on the SARA registry. Comments were received from the Mcllwraith Field Naturalists of London Ontario, Canadian Wildlife Service-Ontario, Parks Canada, Public Utilities Commission for the Municipality of Chatham-Kent and the Town of Lakeshore.

The province of Ontario was represented on the Ontario Freshwater Mussel Recovery Team by the Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) and has actively participated in the development of this proposed recovery strategy. A letter was sent to OMNR to request further Provincial comment on the proposed recovery strategy when it was posted on the SARA Registry. Comments were received from OMNR.

The National Water Research Institute of Environment Canada had been actively engaged in the development of this recovery strategy providing two members to the Ontario Freshwater Mussel Recovery Team.

The Recovery Team contacted representatives from Resource Management agencies at the state and federal levels in the USA where these mussels occur. This mussel is only found in Canada and the United States of America. Information packages were sent to each U.S. agency when the strategy was posted on the Sara Registry. No comments were received.

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