Spotted Gar

Species information

The following is a report on progress made towards the protection and recovery of Spotted Gar (Lepisosteus oculatus) in Ontario from 2007 to 2020, based on Ontario’s species-specific recovery policy. This report meets the legislative requirement for a review of progress under the Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA or “the Act”). Spotted Gar is listed as endangered on the Species at Risk in Ontario (SARO) List under the ESA.

Spotted Gar has been classified as a species at risk since 2004. It was originally classified as a threatened species and was listed as such under the ESA when it came into force in June 2008. The species was re-classified as an endangered species in June 2017.

The species-specific recovery policy for Spotted Gar, known as the Government Response Statement (GRS) was published in 2016 and includes the government’s recovery goal for the species and the actions and priorities it intends to lead or support to help achieve that goal. The GRS considers science advice provided in the recovery strategy, when developing recovery actions for the species. As legislated in the Act, the purpose of this review is to report on progress made towards implementing the protection and recovery actions in the GRS. The review can also help identify opportunities to adjust and adapt the implementation of protection and recovery actions to achieve the recovery goal for the species.

Further information about Spotted Gar, including the threats that it faces, and actions being taken to help protect and recover this species is available on the Government of Ontario webpage for Spotted Gar. A summary on the progress towards the protection and recovery of Spotted Gar and an annual update on the broader species at risk program (i.e. the Introduction to the 2021 Review of Progress report) is available on the Review of Progress towards the Protection and Recovery of Ontario’s Species at Risk webpage.

Snapshot: Progress towards the protection and recovery of Spotted Gar

Progress towards meeting the recovery goal

• The recovery goal in the Government Response Statement (GRS) for Spotted Gar in Ontario is to “maintain self-sustaining populations at existing locations and enable natural increases”.
• Progress has been made towards implementing all government-led actions. Progress has been made towards implementing all of the government-supported recovery objectives and all of the associated actions. Examples of progress include:
  • implementation of best management practices on private properties in southern Ontario to reduce nutrient loading and sedimentation
  • educating landowners and youth about Spotted Gar
  • mitigating adverse effects to Spotted Gar through conditions of ESA permits, agreements and registrations
  • research on Spotted Gar and its habitat
• In alignment with the GRS, more work is needed to evaluate threats and habitat needs of all life-stages in all locations where Spotted Gar occurs, and to identify and implement measures to reduce sedimentation and herbicide use when removing overgrowths of aquatic vegetation that threaten Spotted Gar.

Occurrences and distribution

• Nine populations ^{footnote 1[1]} of Spotted Gar have been documented in Lake Erie between Point Pelee National Park and Long Point National Wildlife Area, Muddy Creek (a Lake Erie tributary), Lake St. Clair, and Lake Ontario in Hamilton, Prince Edward County and the Bay of Quinte. Seven of these populations are extant ^{footnote 2[2]} , whereas the remaining two are considered historical ^{footnote 3[3]} . Since 2008, the status of one population changed from historical to extant as its continuing persistence was confirmed through monitoring efforts. One additional population of Spotted Gar has been newly-identified since 2008.

Government-supported stewardship projects

• Through the Species at Risk Stewardship Program, the Government of Ontario has enabled its stewardship partners to conduct 15 projects (by providing $616,899 in funding) that have supported the protection and recovery of multiple species at risk, including Spotted Gar. One project focused exclusively on Spotted Gar, while the other 14 projects focused on multiple species at risk, including Spotted Gar.
• The government’s support helped its stewardship partners to involve 105 individuals who volunteered 2,382 hours of their time towards protection and recovery activities for species at risk, including Spotted Gar. The estimated value of these voluntary contributions, as well as additional funding and in-kind support, is $1,726,437.
• Stewardship partners reported that through their actions 156 hectares of habitat were enhanced for Spotted Gar and other species at risk that inhabit the same ecosystem.
• Stewardship partners reported providing outreach on multiple species at risk, including Spotted Gar, to 2,375 individuals.

Supporting human activities while ensuring appropriate support for species recovery

• The Government of Ontario has issued 12 permits for this species, all of which were ‘protection or recovery’ (17(2)(b)) permits.
• Four drainage agreements were entered into for Spotted Gar. These agreements were enabled through Ontario Regulation 242/08 (prior to the July 1, 2013 amendment).
• Fifteen activities have been registered for the species. The activities were registered under ‘aquatic species’ (section 23.4), ‘drainage works’ (section 23.9), ‘ecosystem protection’ (section 23.11), ‘hydro-electric generating stations’ (section 23.12), ‘species protection, recovery activities’ (section 23.17), and ‘threats to health and safety, not imminent’ (section 23.18) under Ontario Regulation 242/08 of the ESA.

Reporting on the progress towards the protection and recovery of Spotted Gar

The implementation of government-led and government-supported actions demonstrates progress towards reaching the desired objectives and the recovery goal set out in the GRS.

Progress towards implementing government-led actions

Progress has been made towards implementing all government-led actions identified in the GRS. Common actions for the government to lead as it works towards achieving a species’ recovery goal include:

• Educate other agencies and authorities involved in planning and environmental assessment processes on the protection requirements under the ESA.
• Encourage the submission of Spotted Gar data to the Government of Ontario’s central repository at the Natural Heritage Information Centre (NHIC).
• Undertake communications and outreach to increase public awareness of species at risk in Ontario.
• Protect Spotted Gar and its habitat through the ESA.
• Develop direction to provide greater clarity to proponents and partners on the areas of general habitat protected under the ESA for species at risk fish.
• Support conservation, agency, municipal and industry partners, and Indigenous communities and organizations to undertake activities to protect and recover Spotted Gar. Support will be provided where appropriate through funding, agreements, permits (including conditions) and/or advisory services.
• Encourage collaboration, and establish and communicate annual priority actions for government support in order to reduce duplication of efforts.

Additionally, the government has directly undertaken the following species-specific action:

• Continue to implement the Ontario Invasive Species Strategic Plan to address the invasive species (e.g., Common Carp and Round Goby) that threaten Spotted Gar.

Key progress made towards implementing these actions is described in the following sections.

Guides and resources

The Government of Ontario provides guidance for working on structures in fish and mussel habitats when working on or constructing infrastructure along waterways, as well as guidance for ditch and drainage work where endangered or threatened species may be affected. Guidelines for reducing erosion and sedimentation can also be found on the Ontario species at risk guides and resources webpage. These guidance documents are relevant to Spotted Gar since this species at risk is found in southern Ontario where urban and rural development is ongoing. Land development can directly or indirectly affect Spotted Gar habitat, such as through destruction or nutrient/sediment loading, respectively.

Occurrences and distribution

Spotted Gar was first observed at Point Pelee National Park in 1913. Since then, nine populations of Spotted Gar have been documented in Ontario. Seven populations are considered extant (i.e., observed within the past 20 years) and two are considered historical. Extant populations are located in Lake Erie between Point Pelee National Park and Long Point Bay, one Lake Erie tributary (Muddy Creek), Lake St. Clair at the mouth of the Thames River, and in Lake Ontario (Hamilton Harbour, Cootes Paradise and East Lake, Prince Edward County). Spotted Gar populations at Long Point National Wildlife Area on Lake Erie and in the North Channel of the Bay of Quinte are now historical.

Since 2008, the government’s central repository at the NHIC has received 241 records of the species. These records are based on observations between 2008 and 2021 and come from a variety of sources including iNaturalist ^{footnote 4[4]} submissions, and surveying efforts by the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry (NDMNRF) and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Records submitted have helped to refine where the species is known and has been known to occur and have provided additional information on the species’ habitat and threats. As a result of these efforts, one new Spotted Gar population was documented at Muddy Creek, a tributary of Lake Erie, and the status of two populations from Long Point and Lake St. Clair changed from historical to extant. These newly identified and re-confirmed populations are likely the result of increased search effort and education about Spotted Gar and may not represent actual population increases, but rather increased knowledge about the distribution of the species.

It is possible that there are observations of Spotted Gar that have not been submitted to the government. Encouraging the submission of observations of this species is included in the GRS as a government-led action. Submission of species observations increases our knowledge of where they occur and can play an important role in assessing the viability of species populations.

Everyone is encouraged, or may be required by an authorization or approval to submit observations of Spotted Gar, and any other species at risk observed, to the NHIC for incorporation into the provincial record of observations. Observations may now be submitted to NHIC via the Rare Species of Ontario project in iNaturalist.

• 241
  observations of this species were submitted to the NHIC since 2008

Government-supported stewardship projects

An important government-led action in the GRS for Spotted Gar is to support partners to undertake activities to protect and recover the species. Through the Species at Risk Stewardship Program the government has supported 15 projects ($616,899) designed to contribute to the protection and recovery of Spotted Gar ^{footnote 5[5]} . One of these projects focused exclusively on the species, while the other 14 projects focused on multiple species at risk, including Spotted Gar. In addition to the government funding, partners with projects designed to benefit multiple species at risk, including Spotted Gar, reported they were successful in securing additional funding ($1,726,437) from other sources. These amounts include in-kind support in the form of time and expertise provided by volunteers.

Stewardship partners reported that provincial funding helped them to secure in-kind support by involving 105 individuals who volunteered 2,382 hours of their time towards protection and recovery activities for multiple species at risk, including Spotted Gar, which has an estimated value of $74,615. Partners also reported that through both their efforts and the efforts of their volunteers to implement GRS actions, they were successful in enhancing 156 hectares of habitat that will benefit multiple species at risk, including Spotted Gar. In addition, stewardship partners reported providing ecosystem-based outreach on multiple species, including Spotted Gar, to 2,375 individuals.

The remainder of this section highlights two projects supported through the Species at Risk Stewardship Program as well as the corresponding government-supported recovery actions for the species.

From 2013 to 2014, the Municipality of Chatham-Kent collaborated with the NDMNRF, Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority, Ducks Unlimited Canada, and private landowners to restore 7 hectares of wetland and riparian habitat on private properties upstream of Rondeau Bay, Lake St. Clair and the Thames River ^{footnote 6[6]} . Restoration efforts involved planting native wetland plants, trees, grasses and sedges to benefit multiple aquatic and terrestrial species at risk, including Spotted Gar. This component of the project helped minimize threats, such as sedimentation and nutrient loading, in and around the species' habitat (GRS Action No. 6 – High Priority). Additionally, private landowners who approved of habitat restoration efforts on their properties were educated about the importance of riparian and wetland habitat for numerous species at risk in southern Ontario, including Spotted Gar. This component of the project helped promote awareness of Spotted Gar (GRS Action No. 9) among landowners.

To help achieve the goal of increased public awareness of local aquatic species at risk (GRS Action No. 9), Toronto Zoo’s Great Lakes Program developed a new outreach presentation focusing on the Spotted Gar. This new outreach presentation was delivered to over 800 students in 40 classrooms, in 10 southwestern Ontario schools. Fifteen additional classrooms received Spotted Gar outreach presentations after February 29^th, 2020.

Species at Risk Stewardship Program

• 
  15

  projects included Spotted Gar

• 
  1

  project for Spotted Gar exclusively

• 
  $616,899

  for multi-species projects that included Spotted Gar

• 
  $1,726,437

  in additional funding and in-kind support

• 
  105

  volunteers

• 
  2,382

  volunteer hours

• 
  2,375

  people received outreach

• 
  156

  hectares of habitat enhanced

Supporting human activities while ensuring appropriate support for species recovery

Supporting partners through authorizations and their associated conditions is an important government-led action.

Twelve permits have been issued for Spotted Gar since the species has been protected under the ESA, all of which were ‘protection or recovery’ (17(2)(b)) permits. ‘Protection or recovery’ permits are issued if the purpose of the activity is to assist in the protection or recovery of a species at risk. Of the 12 permits, two were issued exclusively for Spotted Gar, and ten were issued for multiple species, including Spotted Gar. The two permits issued exclusively for Spotted Gar enabled research projects to improve understanding of the genetics and habitat use of this species. To protect the well-being of the species, all people that would be handling or interacting with individual Spotted Gar were required to be properly qualified and trained in measures to prevent stress or injury. Additional permits issued enabled an assortment of habitat restoration projects and species at risk monitoring programs to be completed in areas where Spotted Gar is known to occur.

Four drainage agreements were entered into for Spotted Gar. These agreements were enabled through Ontario Regulation 242/08 (prior to the July 1, 2013 amendment). Conditions of the agreements involve developing a mitigation plan and implementing actions in the mitigation plan, including, but not limited to:

• undertaking appropriate mitigation measures for sediment and erosion control and bank stabilization
• mapping sensitive areas for the species before undertaking any work
• contacting the government to seek further direction where a proposed activity will occur in a sensitive area for a fish species

Fifteen activities that may affect Spotted Gar or its habitat have been registered for the purposes of Ontario Regulation 242/08 under the ESA. One activity was registered under ‘Aquatic species’ (section 23.4), six under ‘Drainage works’ (section 23.9), one under ‘Ecosystem protection’ (section 23.11), one under ‘Hydro-electric generating stations’ (section 23.12), four under ‘Species protection, recovery activities’ (section 23.17), and two under ‘Threats to health and safety, not imminent’ (section 23.18). The registrations require the registrant to comply with all conditions of the regulation, such as:

• ensuring that reasonable steps are taken to minimize adverse effects of the activity on the species
• preparing a mitigation plan using the best available information on steps that may help minimize or avoid adverse effects on the species
• submitting observations of the species to the NHIC using the Ontario Species at Risk Observation Reporting Form

• 12
  protection or recovery permits
• 4
  agreements
• 15
  registrations

Progress towards implementing government-supported actions

Government-supported actions are organized under overarching recovery objectives. Progress has been made towards achieving all government-supported recovery objectives and implementing all of the associated actions identified in the GRS for Spotted Gar.

Under this objective, progress has been made towards implementing Action No. 1, 3 and 5, while initial progress has been made towards implementing Action No. 2 and 4. Progress was made through ‘protection or recovery’ (17(2)(b)) permits and research conducted by the Government of Ontario.

Permits that were issued supported achievement of this recovery objective by:

• conducting a survey and multi-year monitoring programs for aquatic species (including Spotted Gar) in areas where Spotted Gar are known to, or may, occur (Action No. 1 and 3)
• evaluating habitat use of Spotted Gar in Hamilton Harbour (Action No. 2)
• assessing the genetics of Spotted Gar in Rondeau Bay (Action No. 4)

The NDMNRF’s Aquatic Research and Monitoring Section has also supported progress towards three of these actions through several research projects. Outcomes of these projects included:

• Evaluations of different sampling gear for detecting and monitoring wetland fish species at risk, e.g. Samarasin, Reid and Mandrak 2017 and Reid, LeBaron and Barnucz 2016 (Action No. 1).
• Recommendations for wetland restoration to support the survival of several wetland fish species at risk, including Spotted Gar (Montgomery, Reid and Mandrak 2020) (Action No. 2).
• Establishing a long-term wetland fish monitoring program at Crown Marsh in Long Point, Ontario where a multi-year Phragmites control and removal program is underway. This long-term monitoring program began in 2012 and will be concluded in 2022 (Action No. 5).

Under this objective, considerable progress has been made towards implementing Action No. 6 and 8 while progress has been made towards implementing Action No. 7.

Action No. 6 has been implemented through most projects supported by the Species at Risk Stewardship Program. These projects worked with numerous landowners to implement best management practices across southern Ontario to reduce erosion, siltation, turbidity and nutrient loading in rivers connected to Spotted Gar habitat.

Action No. 7 has been implemented through ESA authorizations (‘protection or recovery’ (17(2)(b)) permits) that permitted creating and restoring aquatic habitat as well as a stewardship project that mapped aquatic and terrestrial vegetation around municipal drains in areas where Spotted Gar may occur.

Action No. 8 has been implemented by several partners and government groups through the development of guidance documents for Phragmites control and removal, as well as long-term monitoring:

• Ontario Parks is actively engaged in invasive species (e.g. Phragmites) management at Rondeau Provincial Park and Long Point Provincial Park.
• The Ontario Invasive Plant Council received support through the Species at Risk Stewardship Program to prepare best management practices for Phragmites that consider impacts of management methods on species at risk (Nichols 2020).
• A draft strategy for Phragmites control at Turkey Point, Ontario has been prepared through a strategic agreement between the Government of Ontario and a stewardship partner that is intended to benefit aquatic species at risk, including Spotted Gar.
• Between 2016 and 2020, the NDMNRF formed partnerships with the University of Waterloo, Nature Conservancy of Canada and other conservation organizations, and created a Monitoring Plan as part of the invasive Phragmites control pilot project in wetland areas of Long Point Bay and Rondeau Provincial Park. Monitoring will include assessing the fate of glyphosate, a herbicide used for controlling Phragmites, in water and sediment, dispersal of glyphosate from treatment sites, and potential impact to aquatic biota including to native fish species (e.g., Spotted Gar).

Under this objective, considerable progress has been made towards implementing Action No. 9 through several projects supported by the Species at Risk Stewardship Program focused on education and outreach, one ‘protection or recovery’ (17(2)(b)) permit aimed at mitigating effects of commercial fishing on aquatic species at risk, including Spotted Gar, and through conditions of ESA authorizations.

Summary of progress towards meeting the recovery goal

The recovery goal for Spotted Gar is to maintain self-sustaining populations at existing locations and enable natural increases. Effort made towards the government-led and government-supported actions has helped to make progress towards this goal. For example, several government-supported projects improved habitats for aquatic species at risk in southern Ontario, including Spotted Gar, by restoring wetland habitat and implementing best management practices to reduce erosion, siltation, turbidity and nutrient loading along shorelines. In addition, government researchers are studying the impacts of invasive Phragmites management and control measures on aquatic habitat and species, and guidelines to reduce these impacts have been developed by stewardship partners. Continued Spotted Gar outreach and education initiatives supported by the Species at Risk Stewardship Program further support the recovery goal for Spotted Gar in Ontario.

Based on the provincial record of observations, Spotted Gar continues to persist in Ontario. Of the seven extant populations in Ontario, since 2008, one of them was newly identified, and two others were reconfirmed from historical status to extant.

Recommendations

As stated in the GRS, this review of progress can be used to help identify whether adjustments to the implementation of GRS actions are needed to achieve the protection and recovery of the species. Based on progress to date, the overall direction provided in the GRS for Spotted Gar, particularly the implementation of actions identified as high priority, should continue to guide protection and recovery of the species.

Although initial progress has been made towards the actions to determine the seasonal habitat needs of all life-stages (Action No. 2 – High Priority) and evaluate potential threats such as hybridization and competition (Action No. 4), further work is required to fully implement these actions in all areas where the Spotted Gar is found.

Protecting and recovering Spotted Gar will continue to be a shared responsibility that will require the involvement of many individuals, organizations and communities. Financial support for the implementation of actions may be available through the Species at Risk Stewardship Program. The government can also advise if any authorizations under the ESA or other legislation may be required to undertake a project. By working together, progress can continue to be made towards protecting and recovering Spotted Gar in Ontario.

References

• Montgomery, F., S. M. Reid, and N. E. Mandrak. 2020. "Extinction debt of fishes in Great Lakes coastal wetlands." Biological Conservation 241: Article 108386.
• Nichols, Gabby. 2020. Invasive Phragmites (Phragmites australis) Best Management Practices in Ontario: Improving species at risk habitat through the management of Invasive Phragmites. Peterborough, Ontario: Ontario Invasive Plant Council.
• Reid, S. M., A. LeBaron, and J. Barnucz. 2016. "Seasonal variation in the composition of fishes caught during trawl-based surveys of Little Bear Creek, Ontario." Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat.
• Samarasin, P., S. M. Reid, and N. E. Mandrak. 2017. "Optimal sampling effort required to characterize wetland fish communities." Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 74:1251-1259.