Paxton Lake Limnetic Stickleback Habitat Protected

Summary#

This Order, made by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans (Bernadette Jordan), brings the critical habitat of the Paxton Lake Limnetic Threespine Stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) under the protection of the Species at Risk Act. The Order was registered on February 17, 2020 and published in the Canada Gazette on March 4, 2020.

What it does#

• Declares that the critical habitat described in the species’ recovery strategy is covered by subsection 58(1) of the Species at Risk Act, meaning that habitat is formally identified for protection under the Act.
• Confirms that the recovery strategy and the habitat description are available in the Species at Risk Public Registry.
• Comes into force on the day it was registered (February 17, 2020).
• Notes that the Minister consulted a local wildlife management board that has authority under a land‑claims agreement about the area (the Order does not name the board).

Who's affected#

• People and groups who use or manage land and water around Paxton Lake, such as nearby residents, cottage owners, recreational users, and developers.
• Local and federal agencies involved in fisheries, habitat management and permitting, including Fisheries and Oceans.
• Conservation groups and scientists working on the recovery of the species.
• A wildlife management board operating under a land‑claims agreement (consulted by the Minister).
  If you want the exact mapped area of the critical habitat, the Order points readers to the Species at Risk Public Registry for details.

Why it matters#

• It gives the Paxton Lake limnetic stickleback’s habitat formal protection under federal law. That can affect activities that could damage the lake or shoreline, such as construction, major landscaping, or changes to water use.
• The goal is to support recovery of an endangered fish by protecting places it needs to survive and reproduce.
• For local planners, developers and recreational users, it signals that some projects or actions may need extra review to avoid harming the habitat.