Posted on 03/09/2006 9:55:06 PM PST by NormsRevenge
A tiny fish native to the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta deserves stronger protection under the Endangered Species Act, based on mounting evidence that preservation efforts have done nothing to stanch its rapid decline, environmentalists said Wednesday.
The number of Delta smelt swimming today in the waters feeding San Francisco Bay has declined 2.6 percent from levels in 1993, when the federal government originally declared the species "threatened."
"The population has completely collapsed since 2002," said Jeff Miller of the Center for Biological Diversity, one of three groups petitioning the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for an emergency listing of the fish as "endangered."
"Delta smelt ... clearly need increased federal protections."
Separately, a group of Delta anglers has filed formal notice of its intent to sue the state agency running the massive water pumps sending Delta water south to the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California.
The group, the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, claims the state Department of Water Resources does not have necessary permits under the state's Endangered Species Act to run the pumps, which send the equivalent of the San Joaquin River south and are blamed, particularly by environmentalists, for the smelt's decline.
The smelt, 3-inch-long fish that feed in the shallow, open waters of the Delta's upper reaches, are seen as an indicator species of the Delta's health. But a collapse of the Delta's food web has threatened the fish and many others in the region.
"The science is clear and compelling," said Tina Swanson, senior scientist for the Bay Institute. "Delta smelt, one of the best indicators of environmental conditions in the estuary, is in critical condition, and for the most part we know the reasons why."
But at a field hearing last week before the House Resources Committee, several agency scientists told lawmakers they have several culprits — the pumps, invasive species, poor water quality, for instance — but no definite cause for the decline.
"None of them expressed any concern, call or desire that smelt be elevated from threatened status to endangered," said Brian Kennedy, an aide to Committee Chairman Richard Pombo, R-Tracy.
Kennedy called the petition a "PR stunt" destined to cost the fish and wildlife agency "tens and tens of thousands" of dollars that could otherwise go for conservation.
Al Donner, spokesman for the Fish and Wildlife Service, said the agency is already "heavily involved in a very broad-based effort" to restore the species.
The petition would undergo a full review, he added. "But we received it simultaneously with the press release, so obviously we cannot provide a detailed reaction to it or say where it will fit into our already heavy workload."
As for the pumps, Water Resources Deputy Director Jerry Johns said Wednesday the agency considers itself in full compliance with state law. A provision in the law allows projects to proceed if operators have agreements in place with various state overseers.
The pumps have had such an agreement with state Fish and Game officials since the mid-1980s, he said. Those were renewed in 1995.
Central Valley Bay-Delta Branch Delta Smelt
These nuts don`t realize that every person that ate smelt in 1877 are dead.
KILL THE SMELT, SAVE THE COUNTRY
I've always wanted a smelt smelter. Mmmm, molten smelt!
..every person that ate smelt in 1877 are dead.
Folks are warned in the Bay area that fish caught and eaten from the bay shouldn't be eaten too often due to contaminants, mercury is one commonly netioned.
Here's what I use: http://www.epinions.com/pr-Camping_Stoves-Luhr-Jensen_Lil_Chief_Top_Load_Smoker
It's black as pitch after 25 years, but it still does the job. There are better ones out there today, but they'll all do right by the humble smelt. I like to eat them head first and look into the sunken golden eyes as they head for my gullet. Beer helps.
Just attended a seminar given by Dr. Pauly two weeks ago here is his Global study on the trophic level.
naturalSCIENCE Cover Story: Fishing Down Marine Food Webs: An Interview with Dr. Daniel Pauly
Address:http://naturalscience.com/ns/cover/cover6.html
All my mind could think of during the seminar is ok now that everyone is eating fish up, are we going to be over run by land animals such as beef, these seminars are a bit out of grasp so my mind wanders. I was imagining the media shifting us all back to eating beef to save the fish.
However as the Dr. pointed out is that the NE is doing such a great business catching shrimp now they might not be to interested in bringing Cod back.
Good read if you have the time and interest.
Literally LOL here...
So... He who smelt it, delt' it?
"Due to an unfortunate smelting accident.."
Mercury which, as it turns out, naturally occurs in the Bay, due to quicksilver deposits in the hills above San Jose.
Environmentalists see the need to create shortages in order to support claims of endangered species. If a turd moved they would want habitat established.
What is a seven course meal in northern Michigan?
A bucket of smelt and a six pack of Stroh's!
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