Perspectives on Not Lsiting the Fluvial Arctic Grayling

Abstract

I summarize views held by the Big Hole River Foundation and provide insights into potential positive and negative outcomes of listing the fluvial Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus) under the Endangered Species Act. The perception that listing would lead to recovery of the grayling was evaluated based on past recovery of listed species. Currently, 1,925 species are on the Endangered Species List as either Threatened or Endangered. The number of species listed increased during the 1990s, but has decreased in recent years. To date, 48 species have been removed from the list; 22 have been "recovered," 17 have been reclassified due to data errors, and nine have gone extinct. For species in the contiguous U.S., 15 have been recovered, seven have gone extinct, and 15 have been removed due to data errors. The rate of recovery is estimated at 1.1 percent for North American species, and no fish species have been recovered to date. A common perception that a listing would increase funding was evaluated and showed that relatively little funds are available for species recovery under Section 6 of the ESA, when compared to other federal funding sources. Although the Foundation thinks evidence suggests a listing is warranted, they are supporting the CCAA is an appropriate means of addressing species recovery in the Big Hole.