COSEWIC Assessments Acknowledged: Basking Shark and 14 Species

Summary#

The Order Acknowledging Receipt of the Assessments Done Under Subsection 23(1) of the Species at Risk Act (Basking Shark Atlantic Population and 14 Other Wildlife Species): SI/2026-52 acknowledges that the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) has submitted assessments for 15 aquatic species. Published October 7, 2026, the order starts the nine-month clock for the Governor in Council (GIC) to decide whether any of those species should be added to the List in the Species at Risk Act.

What it does#

• Acknowledges receipt of COSEWIC’s assessments for 15 aquatic species, including the Atlantic population of the basking shark.
• Starts the nine-month decision period for the Governor in Council (GIC) under the Species at Risk Act.
• During that period, the GIC, on the recommendation of the Minister of the Environment, can:
  • accept COSEWIC’s assessments and add species to Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act,
  • decide not to add a species, or
  • refer an assessment back to COSEWIC for more information.
• If the GIC does not act within nine months, the Minister of the Environment must, by order, amend Schedule 1 to match COSEWIC’s assessments.
• The Minister must consult relevant federal ministers and, where applicable, wildlife management boards created by land claims agreements before making recommendations.

Who's affected#

• Fish and wildlife conservation groups and researchers tracking these species.
• Commercial and recreational fishers, and coastal communities where the listed populations live.
• The Minister of the Environment, the Governor in Council (GIC), and departments such as Fisheries and Oceans Canada, which will be involved in any follow-up actions.
• Indigenous communities and wildlife management boards in areas covered by land claims, when those species occur there.
• The general public where potential listings could lead to new protections or restrictions in local waters.

Why it matters#

• This is the formal step that triggers a decision process that can lead to legal protections under the Species at Risk Act. If a species is added to Schedule 1, it can lead to recovery plans, habitat protection, and regulatory changes that affect fisheries and coastal activities.
• The nine-month deadline means a decision or direction will come within a set timeframe, reducing uncertainty about next steps for species on the list.
• The order does not itself change protections. It only starts the process that could result in legal listing, reclassification, or further review.