spectr17
04-22-2003, 11:50 PM
April 04, 2003
MT FW&P
Agencies Say Cutthroats Aren't Endangered
Westslope cutthroat trout do not need to be listed under the federal Endangered Species Act, according to three state fish and wildlife agencies in the northwest, including Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
In a recent letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the directors of fish and wildlife agencies in Montana, Idaho, and Oregon say the states make "a compelling case for finding that listing of westslope cutthroat trout under the Endangered Species Act is not warranted."
In recent years, several groups have petitioned to list the westslope cutthroat under the Endangered Species Act, citing dangers to the native fish, including the potential for crossbreeding with non-native fish introduced into cutthroat waters.
The states, however, contend that a recent comprehensive assessment of westslope cutthroat trout shows that genetically pure populations of westslope cutthroat trout are abundant across the northwestern landscape and are being managed to ensure both long-term survival and quality recreational fishing.
More than 100 fisheries professionals representing 12 state, tribal, and federal agencies, and private firms worked to gather information for the assessment. Among the issues considered were genetic status, population condition relative to habitat potential, disease risk, obstacles to conservation and conservation measures already in place.
Chris Hunter, chief of FWP's fisheries division, said the work represents the best available science regarding the current status of westslope cutthroat trout across their range in the United States.
"We believe the assessment supports our contentions that listing the westslope cutthroat trout is not warranted," Hunter said. "The data and analysis offers the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service a tremendous resource to help make its decision."
Westslope cutthroat trout are found in Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada.
More than 3,400 miles of streams support westslope cutthroat trout populations that have been tested and proven to be genetically pure. About 9,100 additional miles of streams are believed to support pure westslope cutthroat trout, based on the absence of introduced fish known to hybridize with cutthroat trout. Genetic analysis further suggests that a large percentage of the 17,300 miles of streams identified as "potentially genetically altered" maintain pure populations, the assessment shows.
Westslope cutthroat trout occupy about 13,000 miles of habitat in Montana, with about 480 "conservation populations" in 8,400 miles of habitat. Montana conservation populations are classified as being at least 90 percent genetically pure, or as having unique ecological, genetic or behavioral attributes.
Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington are currently working together to develop a range-wide conservation agreement for the preservation and management of westslope cutthroat trout. A draft was developed in 2002 and is expected to be finished in 2003. Washington's fish and wildlife officials also worked on the assessment of the trout's status, but the director there did not sign the letter to the federal agency.
The westslope cutthroat trout assessment is available on FWP's website at http://www.fwp.state.mt.us/wildthings/west...ope/content.asp (http://www.fwp.state.mt.us/wildthings/westslope/content.asp).
MT FW&P
Agencies Say Cutthroats Aren't Endangered
Westslope cutthroat trout do not need to be listed under the federal Endangered Species Act, according to three state fish and wildlife agencies in the northwest, including Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
In a recent letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the directors of fish and wildlife agencies in Montana, Idaho, and Oregon say the states make "a compelling case for finding that listing of westslope cutthroat trout under the Endangered Species Act is not warranted."
In recent years, several groups have petitioned to list the westslope cutthroat under the Endangered Species Act, citing dangers to the native fish, including the potential for crossbreeding with non-native fish introduced into cutthroat waters.
The states, however, contend that a recent comprehensive assessment of westslope cutthroat trout shows that genetically pure populations of westslope cutthroat trout are abundant across the northwestern landscape and are being managed to ensure both long-term survival and quality recreational fishing.
More than 100 fisheries professionals representing 12 state, tribal, and federal agencies, and private firms worked to gather information for the assessment. Among the issues considered were genetic status, population condition relative to habitat potential, disease risk, obstacles to conservation and conservation measures already in place.
Chris Hunter, chief of FWP's fisheries division, said the work represents the best available science regarding the current status of westslope cutthroat trout across their range in the United States.
"We believe the assessment supports our contentions that listing the westslope cutthroat trout is not warranted," Hunter said. "The data and analysis offers the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service a tremendous resource to help make its decision."
Westslope cutthroat trout are found in Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada.
More than 3,400 miles of streams support westslope cutthroat trout populations that have been tested and proven to be genetically pure. About 9,100 additional miles of streams are believed to support pure westslope cutthroat trout, based on the absence of introduced fish known to hybridize with cutthroat trout. Genetic analysis further suggests that a large percentage of the 17,300 miles of streams identified as "potentially genetically altered" maintain pure populations, the assessment shows.
Westslope cutthroat trout occupy about 13,000 miles of habitat in Montana, with about 480 "conservation populations" in 8,400 miles of habitat. Montana conservation populations are classified as being at least 90 percent genetically pure, or as having unique ecological, genetic or behavioral attributes.
Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington are currently working together to develop a range-wide conservation agreement for the preservation and management of westslope cutthroat trout. A draft was developed in 2002 and is expected to be finished in 2003. Washington's fish and wildlife officials also worked on the assessment of the trout's status, but the director there did not sign the letter to the federal agency.
The westslope cutthroat trout assessment is available on FWP's website at http://www.fwp.state.mt.us/wildthings/west...ope/content.asp (http://www.fwp.state.mt.us/wildthings/westslope/content.asp).