This U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently finalized a plan to protect two Texas minnow species.
The recovery plan put forth by the agency protects sharpnose and smalleye shiners, two species of minnow that are usually found in north-central Texas, according to an April 1 press release.
Amy Lueders, USFWS Southwest regional director, shared her thoughts about the plan.
“Thanks to our collaboration with partners including Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Brazos River Authority, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Environmental Protection Agency, local municipalities, and private landowners we have a plan to recover two native Texas fish species,” Lueders said. “By implementing actions identified in the recovery plan we can improve the status of the sharpnose and smalleye shiners as well as the rivers they depend upon.”
Both fish are endangered and at risk of extinction due to loss of habitat and reductions in water quality, the release stated
The sharpnose shiner is a small fish, measuring 3-5 centimeters, according to the USFWS. Typically, these minnows live about three years. The smalleye shiner is around the same size and typically lives less than three years.
