First Fish Headed off Endangered Species List

Now that it’s (finally) starting to feel like spring, it’s time to dig out the old fishing pole. While you’re on the water, take a minute to think about the fish that aren’t doing as well as the trout chasing your lure.

Centuries of industry have really done a number on our rivers, in turn hurting the fish that were once thriving. Explorers of old would write about discovering waterways teeming with fish. These days, many fish species are suffering as culverts and dams impede their passage through America’s rivers.

In the Northeast, we have 10 species of fish protected by the Endangered Species Act, such as the endangered Atlantic salmon, Atlantic sturgeon and short-nosed sturgeon, which still face problems like overharvest and bycatch — when one catches the wrong fish.

The yellowfin madtom (Noturus flavipinnis) is a small catfish native to parts of the Upper Tennessee River Basin in Tennessee and Virginia. In Virginia, it occurs in the mainstem Powell River, the Clinch River and one of its major tributaries, Copper Creek. The yellowfin madtom is found in medium to large streams in gently flowing pools, hiding under leaf litter, rocks and stones during the day. Major threats to this species are impoundments, chemical spills, mining, and pollution. via USFWS

The Roanoke logperch (Percina rex) is a small fish growing to 5 inches in length that feeds on invertebrates by flipping stones on the stream bottom with its snout. It occurs in 13 populations in widely separated segments of the upper Roanoke, Pigg, Nottoway and Upper Dan rivers. The logperch has strongly patterned fins, a prominent bar below the eye and 8 to 11 vertical bands on its sides. Massive loss of Roanoke logperch habitat has occurred due to construction of the large impoundments of the Roanoke River Basin in the 1950s and 1960s, which resulted in major disruptions in the ability of this species to move throughout its historic range. Biologists are working to protect its habitat by reducing upland runoff into rivers. via USFWS

The slender chub (Erimystax cahni) has one of the smallest ranges among North American riverine fishes. This exceedingly rare species inhabits the clear, warm, moderate to fast flowing shallow water of the Clinch and Powell rivers in Tennessee and Virginia. A primary reason for the decline of the slender chub is its affinity for fine-gravel shoals, many which have been degraded or destroyed by waterway impoundments, pollution, and excessive sedimentation (including coal fines). via USFWS

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), once the royalty of Maine sport fish, are now an endangered species and represent the last wild populations in the U.S. Their numbers declined because dams and culverts block access to their spawning areas and their ocean survival has been greatly reduced for unknown reasons. Other threats include predation and competition from non-native fish, degraded water quality, and pollution. They still occur in small numbers in most of the state’s major river systems. The Service works with many groups to replace culverts and improve fish ladders to give salmon access to spawning areas. The Penobscot Restoration Trust is removing dams on the Penobscot River to restore passage for salmon and other anadromous fish. via USFWS

The spotfin chub (Erimonax monachus) is found only in the Tennessee River drainage system in Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina. Adults are green on top with a silver underbelly. Spotfin chub inhabit clear and warm medium to large streams with swift currents, feeding primarily on immature aquatic insects. Threats include sedimentation (including coal fines), pollution, chemical dumping and releases of cold water from reservoirs. via Ken Taylor / CWRC

In Virginia, the blackside dace (Phoxinus cumberlandensis, also known as Chrosomus cumberlandensis) is known to occur only in tributaries of the North Fork Powell River in Lee County. Attaining brilliant black, red, and gold spawning coloration in the late spring and early summer, blackside dace reach up to three inches in length and have a three-year life span. Found in small upland streams with moderate flow and large rocks, threats include logging, water withdrawals, pollution and agricultural runoff. via USFWS

The Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) is a long-lived, estuarine dependent, anadromous fish that can grow to 14 feet long and weigh up to 800 pounds. Similar in appearance to shortnose sturgeon, they are bluish-black or olive brown with white bellies and rows of scutes (horny plates). Overharvest historically led to widespread declines in their abundance, but current threats include bycatch of sturgeon in fisheries targeting other species, habitat degradation and loss from human activities, inability to access habitat from locks and dams, and ship strikes. In the Gulf of Maine, this fish is protected as threatened. via: USFWS

Fortunately, we just announced the first fish saved by the ESA in the nation. Today, we’re going cross-country to talk about a little fish that could: the Oregon chub. This fish, native to the Willamette River in Oregon, is heading for delisting, turning the tide on endangerment.

Since it was first protected under the Endangered Species Act in 1993, it has seen a tremendous and inspiring recovery. Way back then (even before the internet), there were only eight populations of these little guys. Now there are over 50.

Here are two Oregon chubs hanging out, being friends. via USFWS Pacific

Sure, you say, any species that’s recovering so well in such a short time is great, but why the cause for celebration? Well, imaginary critic, I’m getting to that. This is historic news. The Oregon chub’s delisting would make it the first fish removed from the Endangered Species Act. And with no small degree of luck and perseverance, the first of many.

This fish’s meteoric recovery was precipitated by collaborations between our agency, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Army Corps of Engineers and private landowners, who managed habitats on their lands, and in some cases, created habitat to support introductions on their property. Ponds were constructed along the minnow’s historic range — these simulate the Oregon chub’s preferred habitat of heavy-vegetation bogs and sloughs for the fish to hide and spawn in. Chub were introduced into new locations within their range, and biologists discovered new, undocumented populations.

From a net (ha!) population of fewer than 1,000 in 1993, the number of these minnows has surged to more than 150,000 today, biologists estimate.

Contributing to their initial decline was the construction of dams that dried up the many bogs and sloughs where they made their home. The introduction of non-native game fish like bass also decimated the Oregon chub’s numbers. With nowhere to hide from these new predators, their numbers dried up like their former pond homes.

Fish friendly culverts like this newly-constructed one at Little Sucker Brook can help restore endangered fish populations! via USFWS

But things are looking up for this tiny fish — and others like it. With the recovery of the Oregon chub and the improvement of its river basin, we can expect to see populations of other fish and species in its ecosystem to improve. This sort of success is inspiring — it’s why we do what we do.

There’s still hope for our Atlantic and short-nosed sturgeon and Atlantic salmon, as long we continue to restore the waterways vital to the character of the Northeast.

Silent witnesses to the historic Christmas night crossing of the Delaware

Fisheries Biologist Catherine Gatenby dishes about fish!

On December 25, 1776 the watermen of Massachusetts navigated George Washington and his Continental Army across the Delaware River in the dark of the night. Below, huddling together in the depths of the river, were likely hundreds of witnesses to this historic event, shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum).

Reenactment of Washington crossing the Delaware on Christmas. Credit: Bucks County CVB.

At 55 pounds and five feet long, shortnose sturgeon are large fish, but they are the smallest of the three species of sturgeon in eastern North America. Like their cousins the Atlantic sturgeon, they once occurred by the thousands in coastal rivers from Canada to Florida.  Unlike Atlantic sturgeon, however, the shortnose spends most of its life in rivers – even in the cold of December.

By the end of the 19^th century, overharvest had seriously depleted shortnose sturgeon populations. Damming rivers and using them as dumping grounds during the industrialization of the U.S. were final blows to sturgeon and their habitat.  By 1967 only a few remnant populations existed, so shortnose sturgeon were included on the original endangered species list. 

Shortnose sturgeon. Credit: USFWS

Today, after 40 years of protection by the Endangered Species Act and the Clean Water Act, shortnose sturgeon seem to be doing better in northern rivers. The Hudson River population alone has increased by over 400 percent since 1973.

 Shortnose sturgeon have been found again in the Penobscot River in Maine.  “Finding them at all is big; they haven’t been seen in the Penobscot since 1970” said Dr. Joe Zydlewski, Maine Cooperative Research Unit, U.S. Geological Survey – as he quickly suggested I speak with his wife, Dr. Gail Zydlewski, at the University of Maine.

In 2005 Dr. Zydlewski began a tagging program to monitor shortnose migratory behaviors and use of rivers in Maine after a fisherman hauled in a shortnose from the Penobscot. She and her team found that shortnose sturgeon in the Penobscot may migrate to the Kennebec River to spawn. 

Once upon a time, the Penobscot River had huge populations of spawning shortnose and Atlantic sturgeon and the fish may yet live happily ever after there. Removal of the Veazie and other dams will restore access to 100 percent of historic spawning habitat for all sturgeon in the Penobscot River.  

This shortnose sturgeon was caught in the Delaware River during a population health assessment
by the Service and Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Credit: USFWS

In the Delaware River, shortnose sturgeon may be rebounding as well, helping to repopulate the Potomac River via the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal.  Shortnose were thought to be gone from the Potomac, but fishermen have reported catching them in the past 10 years and scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service identified a shortnose making a pre-spawning migration run in the Potomac River. “Although, we aren’t yet certain whether shortnose are spawning in the Potomac, we are certain suitable habitat exists for foraging, wintering and spawning,” said Mike Mangold, Service Biologist.

Shortnose sturgeon captured in the upper Chesapeake Bay by a commercial fisherman was tagged to monitor behavior and identify potential suitable habitat. Credit: USFWS

In 1992, the Service’s Maryland Fisheries Resource Office began managing the Atlantic Coast Cooperative Sturgeon Tagging program. “We are building a better understanding of how populations are faring in the wild, and where to focus efforts on restoring additional habitat for sturgeon” said Sheila Eyler, program coordinator. 

As we reflect back upon the historic crossing of the Delaware this holiday season, let’s also reflect how fortunate we are to enjoy the heritage of our native fish populations and  healthy, rich and productive rivers now and always.  

Bringing back an old fish to a young river: lake sturgeon in the Niagara

Credit: USFWS

Last week we heard from Bethany Holbrook about successfully stocking lake sturgeon in the St. Lawrence River in New York, part of a collaborative effort between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC) to restore lake sturgeon populations.

Fish stocking is one of many tools biologists use to bring back fish populations  This week, Fisheries Biologist and Communication Coordinator Catherine Gatenby highlights how monitoring a naturally reproducing population in the Niagra River can help recover this ancient species.

Lake sturgeon are descendants of one of the oldest families of fishes on the planet!  They first appeared about 100,000 years ago, just as dinosaurs began to disappear.  Once abundant in the Hudson Bay, the St. Lawrence River, the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes basins, including the young Niagara River (“only” 5, 500 – 12,500 years old!), lake sturgeon almost went extinct due to over-fishing and loss of suitable spawning habitat.

Lake sturgeon have many primitive characteristics, such as armor-like plates, or “scutes”, along their backs and sides. Credit:USFWS

For several years the Service and NYDEC have monitored lake sturgeon and their habitat in the Niagara River, where  promising results suggest that a goal of self-sustaining populations is within reach.

“We are seeing recovery of some wild populations that use the Niagara River. We saw the first measurable runs of reproducing lake sturgeon in the lower Niagara River this past summer than have been seen in a long time”, said Dr. Dimitry Gorsky of the Service’s Lower Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office.  “Indeed, the population in the lower Niagara River is larger than biologists expected, with a large number of younger fish (less than 30 years of age) preparing for reproduction, indicating this population could become self-sustaining if conditions remain suitable.”

Dr. Gorsky, the Service and NYDEC continue to monitor wild lake sturgeon movements and populations using tagged fish. Credit:USFWS

The NYDEC observed a similar aged population suggesting reproduction in the upper Niagara River as well.

This summer, Lower Great Lakes biologists spotted several lake sturgeon in the shallows of the shorelines of the lower Niagara River Gorge during the spawning season, suggesting that spawning might be occurring there, too!

We’ll continue to keep a close watch on these growing wild populations and their habitat to see what conditions are contributing to their success and use this information to promote self-sustaining lake sturgeon populations in the Great Lakes watershed.  These findings give us hope for the recovery of lake sturgeon in the Niagara and other river systems.

Visit the Lower Greats Lake Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office website and Facebook page  and the Service’s Midwest Region’s website for more information on Great Lakes restoration and outreach activities.