Silver Chub Critical Habitat Order

Summary#

This is the Critical Habitat of the Silver Chub (Macrhybopsis storeriana) Great Lakes – Upper St. Lawrence Populations Order (SOR/2026-4). It triggers legal protection for the fish’s identified critical habitat in parts of the Canadian side of the Great Lakes region. The Order was registered on January 21, 2026, and came into force on that date.

What it does#

• It makes the destruction of any part of the Silver Chub’s identified critical habitat subject to the prohibition in the Species at Risk Act.
• The critical habitat identified in the recovery strategy (posted on August 5, 2025) is mainly in the Canadian portion of the western basin of Lake Erie (from the Detroit River outlet to the area near Point Pelee). The Order covers only the specific areas where the habitat features the species needs are actually present.
• It complements existing protections under the Fisheries Act, which already prohibits harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat, but adds a specific SARA-based protection for the Silver Chub’s critical habitat.
• If the recovery strategy is revised with new critical-habitat information, the Order will apply to the revised habitat once the updated recovery strategy is posted.

Who's affected#

• People or companies proposing works, undertakings, or activities in the identified areas (for example, projects in or near water) may need federal authorization before proceeding.
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) will continue to review project applications and issue authorizations or permits as needed.
• Stakeholders who were involved in the recovery strategy process include conservation authorities, environmental groups, municipalities, agricultural organizations, industry, and Indigenous communities.
• Chippewas of the Thames First Nation was among the Indigenous communities consulted; DFO says no critical habitat is on reserve lands.
• The Order is not expected to impose new, immediate costs on small businesses or to affect ongoing projects reviewed under current processes; however, future projects that would destroy critical habitat could be affected.

Why it matters#

• The Order gives added, SARA-based legal protection to parts of the Silver Chub’s habitat in the Great Lakes region. That makes it harder for activities that would destroy that habitat to proceed without strict review and conditions.
• The protection supports recovery of the endangered Silver Chub (Great Lakes – Upper St. Lawrence populations) and complements Fisheries Act tools already used to reduce damage to fish habitat.
• Anyone planning activities in the area should check whether their plans overlap the mapped critical habitat and should contact DFO early.
• There are criminal penalties under SARA for offences affecting listed species or their habitat, including fines up to $1,000,000 for corporations on indictable offences (and lower fines or imprisonment for individuals for certain offences).