Salamanders: regulations amending the wild animal and plant trade regulations

The purpose of the Regulations Amending the Wild Animal and Plant Trade Regulations - Salamanders (the regulations) is to temporarily prevent the introduction of the fungal disease, Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), into Canadian ecosystems, and provide the Government of Canada with the opportunity to consider longer-term measures to protect Canadian salamanders.

A disease-causing fungus, Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), originating in Asia, has been devastating populations of native salamanders in European countries. It is thought that trade in salamanders via the pet industry is the primary means through which the disease spread from Asia. If the fungus enters Canadian ecosystems, the impacts on domestic salamanders would likely be severe. It is believed that the fungus spreads through direct contact with an infected individual, and through contact with contaminated organic material or water. While many Asian salamander species have evolved resistance to Bsal, experimental exposure trials reveal that salamanders from other parts of the world, including salamanders that range into Canada, are highly susceptible to infection. To date, there is no known case of infection in salamanders in Canada or in the United States. However, the expectation is that Bsal is likely to survive and persist in many parts of Canada, and if introduced would be impossible to eradicate. There is currently no known treatment for salamanders once they are infected with the fungus.

Canada imports salamanders primarily as pets and for research purposes.  Almost half of the salamanders imported into Canada originate from affected areas in Europe and Asia.  Asian species of salamanders can carry the Bsal without showing symptoms, making detection at Canada’s ports of entry particularly difficult. 

The Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA), and the Wild Animal and Plant Trade Regulations (WAPTR), are used to protect certain species of animals and plants by regulating their international and interprovincial trade. Section 21 of WAPPRIITA allows the Governor in Council (GIC) to make regulations for carrying out the purposes of the Act.  The regulations amend the definition of “animal” in section 5 of WAPTR for the purpose of subsection 6(2) of the Act and in respect of importation to include the order Caudata (i.e., all salamander species).  As a result of these regulations, the importation of salamanders without a permit is prohibited for the period of one year from the date that the regulations are registered. The regulations do not modify any import restrictions for species that are not salamanders. 

The regulations are expected to result in important positive environmental effect by contributing to the preservation of salamanders and protecting the species from this threat. Facilitating the preservation of a given species contributes to overall biodiversity, the maintenance of which is essential for healthy ecosystems. More diverse ecosystems are generally more stable and better able to withstand change, and thus the goods and services they provide to society are also more stable over time.  In particular, salamanders support the healthy and aquatic and terrestrial habitats in which they live through their normal ecosystem functions in the food chain, and through their role in nutrient and carbon cycling. This will contribute to overall biodiversity and help maintain the benefits of the species that Canadians currently enjoy as well as its potential future uses. Although the regulations will result in low costs to the Government of Canada and to Canadian businesses, it is anticipated that its implementation will result in notable environmental benefits that will outweigh those modest costs. 

The regulations will contribute to three of the 2016-19 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) objectives and targets including 1) sustainably managed lands and forests, 2) healthy wildlife populations; and, 3) effective action on climate change. Among the most abundant vertebrates in the forest habitats in which they occur, salamanders play a significant role in our ecosystems, contributing to a more balanced biome and to the mitigation of climate change through their role in nutrient and carbon cycling. Salamanders can reduce carbon emissions by consuming insects that break down leaf litter and release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Salamanders also play a key ecological role as part of the food web, where they prey heavily on insects and arthropods, including mosquito larvae and ticks.  Healthier salamander populations will better contribute to a more diverse ecosystem, which in turn, supports healthier forests which act as carbon sinks, helping to mitigate climate change. 

Since any importation of salamanders into Canada will require a permit, Environment and Climate Change Canada officials will be able to track the number of permit applications for salamander imports.  The collection of data will be ongoing while the regulations are in effect. Over the course of the year in which the regulations are in place, the data obtained may contribute to the analysis to determine longer term actions to minimize the introduction of the fungus into Canada.

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