U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE PROPOSES ENDANGERED STATUS FOR ALABAMA STURGEON
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service this week is proposing that the Alabama
sturgeon, a freshwater fish that once inhabited extensive portions of the
Mobile River system, be listed as endangered on the federal list of endangered
and threatened species. A species is endangered when it is at risk of becoming
extinct in the foreseeable future.
"The Alabama sturgeon was once so abundant that it was caught and sold
commercially," said the Service's Southeast Regional Director, Sam D.
Hamilton. "The fish inhabited some 1,000 miles of the Mobile River system in
Alabama, that included the Black Warrior, Tombigbee, Alabama, Coosa,
Tallapoosa, Mobile, Tensaw, and Cahaba Rivers as well as stretches of the
Tombigbee River in Mississippi. Since then, it has disappeared from
approximately 85 percent of its historic range in the Alabama and Tombigbee
Rivers and their major tributaries in Mississippi and Alabama. Since 1985, all
confirmed captures have been restricted to a short, free-flowing reach of the
Alabama River below Millers Ferry and Claiborne Locks and Dams in Clarke,
Monroe, and Wilcox Counties, Alabama.
During the past 2 years the Service has worked with the Alabama Department of
Conservation and Natural Resources, the Alabama-Tombigbee Rivers Coalition, a
group of private businesses and industries with economic interests in these
rivers, and other partners, to begin conservation efforts to increase the
numbers of Alabama sturgeon. As a part of these efforts, the Marion State Fish
Hatchery has been modified to maintain and propagate Alabama sturgeon and
efforts to collect brood stock have been initiated. Biologists also are
seeking to identify important habitats for the species in the Alabama River
and to develop strategies for protection and management of this habitat.
Because of the research accomplished through the cooperative efforts put
forward by these organizations, the Service does not anticipate that the
protection of the Alabama sturgeon, under the Act, is likely to have any
effect on current activities, including dredging for navigation, on the
Alabama and Tombigbee rivers, Hamilton said.
The decline of the sturgeon is believed to be due to over-fishing, the loss
and fragmentation of habitat as a result of navigation-related development,
and degradation of water quality. Today, the fish's population has been
reduced to the point where, if no specific conservation measures are taken,
its chances for recovery are slim. The numbers of surviving sturgeon may be
too low for natural reproduction to restore a sustainable population. The
Alabama sturgeon is long and slender, growing to about 30 inches in length,
and is a golden- yellow color. A mature fish weighs 2-3 pounds. The head is
broad and flattened, shovel-like at the snout. Boney plates cover the head,
back and sides. The body narrows abruptly to the rear to form a narrow stalk
between body and tail. The upper lobe of the tail fin is elongated and ends in
a long filament.
The Service previously proposed the Alabama sturgeon for endangered status on
June 15, 1993. Because the Service could not find information showing that the
species existed, it withdrew the proposal on December 15, 1994. Since then,
however, six fish have been caught by state, federal, and commercial and
recreational fishermen events that confirm its continued existence.
The species, nonetheless, is among the rarest of North American fish. For the
past two years professional fisheries biologists have attempted to catch these
sturgeon and have interviewed numerous commercial and recreational fishermen
encountered on the Alabama river asking for reports of any sturgeon captures.
In spite of these vigorous efforts, only three fish two males and one female
have been collected to date.
The Service's proposal to list the Alabama sturgeon will be published on
Friday, Mar. 26, 1999, in the Federal Register. This action puts into motion a
thorough review of the status of the Alabama sturgeon, during which the agency
will determine whether or not endangered status is appropriate. After
considering comments received from the public, the Service will make a final
determination in a year.
If the Service determines that endangered status is appropriate for the
Alabama sturgeon, the species will benefit from those protections and recovery
actions assured under the Endangered Species Act. Species listed as endangered
are protected from direct and indirect "take," which includes killing,
harming, or harassing. Federal agencies whose actions may affect an endangered
species must consult with the Service to ensure activities do not further
endanger the species. In addition, the Service would develop a recovery plan
to formalize on-going conservation efforts, and to identify and implement
other actions to restore populations to a level when extinction would no
longer be a threat.
The Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have examined river
activities and potential conflicts that might arise from a listing of the
Alabama sturgeon. This study has resulted in a joint determination by the
Service and the Corps that current activities in the Alabama and Tombigbee
Rivers, including the annual navigation channel maintenance dredging programs
will have no impact on the sturgeon and will not need to be eliminated,
modified or altered should the species be listed.
Hamilton noted that these two waterways already contain four listed species
the threatened inflated heelsplitter mussel and gulf sturgeon and the
endangered heavy pigtoe and southern pigtoe mussels.
These species share similar threats with the Alabama sturgeon and their
presence has not resulted in any use restrictions of the Alabama and Tombigbee
rivers.
The Service is inviting public comments on its proposal to list the Alabama
sturgeon as an endangered species. Comments may be directed to the Field
Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 6578 Dogwood View Parkway,
Jackson, MS, 39213, and will be accepted through May 24, 1999. Requests for a
public hearing must be submitted to the same address by May 9, 1999. For more
information, contact the address above or call (601) 965-4900. !
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