Steve Chase National Conservation Training Center (NCTC) Director | US Fish and Wildlife Services
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has listed the San Francisco Bay-Delta distinct population segment of longfin smelt as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The decision is based on scientific evidence indicating a significant decline in longfin smelt populations throughout the San Francisco Bay estuary over recent decades.
“Like many species of fish, wildlife and their habitats, the hotter and drier climate has contributed to longfin’s decline, and the species needs our help,” said Paul Souza, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Southwest Regional Director. “We are dedicated to working with others to conserve longfin smelt while recognizing the importance of wetlands in our refuges and conservation areas, the benefits of agricultural lands, and the critical water resources that sustain California's communities."
Longfin smelt are small fish ranging from 3.5 to 4.3 inches in length with a lifespan of about 2 to 3 years. They inhabit bays and estuaries along the coast from Northern California to Alaska but are restricted to the San Francisco Bay estuary in this region. These fish are anadromous; older juveniles and adults migrate to the ocean but return to fresh or brackish water for spawning. Their reproductive success relies heavily on adequate freshwater flows.
The primary cause for their declining population is habitat loss due to long-term reductions and alterations in freshwater flow into the San Francisco Bay estuary. This issue affects other wildlife species that depend on clean water and rely on longfin smelt as a food source.
Protections under the Endangered Species Act aim to support recovery by promoting innovative water resource management approaches for both human and wildlife needs, fostering diverse conservation partnerships, and raising awareness about threats facing this species. Efforts to conserve longfin smelt will also contribute to a more resilient ecosystem in the San Francisco Bay estuary.
Longfin smelt are already listed as threatened under California’s Endangered Species Act, which prohibits unpermitted possession, purchase, sale or taking of state-listed species. The federal listing will align state and federal regulations, reducing separate requirements.
Since its enactment in 1973, the Endangered Species Act has prevented numerous species from going extinct by inspiring conservation actions for at-risk species and their habitats.
The final rule will be available in the Federal Register’s reading room on July 29, 2024, published officially on July 30, 2024. It can be accessed online at https://www.regulations.gov/ by searching Docket No. FWS–R8–ES–2022–0082.
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For more information about U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service initiatives: www.fws.gov
