The circumstances under which the review of a Conservation Unit (CU), or multiple CUs, may take place are detailed in Wade et al. (2019). In general there are two situations which may result in the need to review a CU:

1) when new information with respect to the profile of a CU becomes available, a review may require CUs to be modified or updated by merging with another CU, or deleting altogether and

2) when a census site is moved from its original CU to another CU when local knowledge, updated genetics or geographic information indicates that it had been incorrectly assigned during the original identification process.

Reviews of CUs will occur when significant new information emerges or in association with a status review process if the reviewers have accumulated information indicating that revisions may be needed.  Modifications to CUs are not anticipated to happen frequently or to require periodic consideration because the emergence of new information will be infrequent.  

These instructions provide guidance on the initiation of a CU review. For the purposes of these instructions, the review of a CU will be referred to in the singular, but it is anticipated that in most cases multiple CUs may be affected by a review.  The submission form supports the framework in Wade et al. (2019) which outlines the four steps in the CU review process.

1) Review
2) Submission
3) Adjudication
4) Analysis and response

The instructions focus on the first two steps, review and submission.

Any individual or organization can request a CU review.  If an organization is requesting the review, a contact person must be identified and agree to participate in the process.

All requests for review must be submitted using the REQUEST FORM FOR PROPOSED CHANGES TO CONSERVATION UNITS AND/OR CENSUS SITE; completed in full and sent to the Salmon Data Unit (SDU).

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeqeckWwRle6h2JuRWXcs-V3gdxegDVGorGoNW26GocxmX0ow/viewform

The information necessary for DFO to initiate a review is outlined in Step 1 of the CU Review Request Form (see How do I fill out the form?).

In order to initiate a CU review, the proponent must provide all the information necessary for the adjudication committee to decide:

1) whether a CU review/change is warranted
2) what Type of review is necessary (See Wade et al. 2019 for a description of Types).

To determine if a change is warranted, the proponent conducts the initial review using the following steps:  

1. Obtain the recent list of census sites and CUs relevant to the review to be conducted from DFO at the following email address:

DFO.SECUData-DonneesESUC.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

2. Gather all relevant supporting data and information from various sources including but not exclusive to: Pacific Salmon Commission reports, Enhancement Planning and Assessment Database (EPAD), Pacific Ageing Database System (PADS), Molecular Genetics Lab (MGL), Mark Recovery Program (MRP), Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS), Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK), New Salmon Escapement Database System (NuSEDS), Pacific Salmon Explorer (PSE), Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK).

3. Flag census sites for review if one or more of the following occur:
    (a) No evidence of any spawning activity
    (b) Observed life history is not aligned with assigned life history
    (c) Census site is located outside the geographic boundary of the assigned CU’s JAZ
    (d) Known genetic relationships do not support placement of the census site within the CU.
    (e) Enhanced (see below)
    (f) Census site is missing from the current NuSEDS list
    (g) Other (to be explained by proponent)

Data and information from both inside and outside DFO should be sourced, summarized and validated.

If after completing the review, you feel there is sufficient information necessary for DFO to undertake a review of a CU or group of CUs, an application must be filled out and submitted to DFO. The proponent is responsible for filling out, in full, the information found in Step 1 of the CU Review Request Form.  If all required information is not provided in full, the request will be returned to the proponent.

Proponent Name: Name of the individual or organization requesting the review.

Proponent Contact Info: Provide phone number, email address and the preferred method of contact.

CU Name (Existing/New): Existing name of CU which is potentially affected. If a new CU name is warranted, include it here. Select from the drop down list.  

Census Site(s) (All/List by POP_ID): List the census site and POP_ID(s) (Population ID) affected by the proposed change.  

Description of Proposed Change (part of subsequent project/date required): Describe the proposed CU change, how it was decided that a change was necessary and when the change should take effect (is it to be back dated for example).

Description of Information Available to Support Proposed Change: Using one of or all three characteristics (below) which define a CU, provide details and references to support the review of the CU and proposed changes.
• Life History:
• Ecotypology:
• Genetics: