The Stippled Studfish is a rare freshwater fish which, after decades of development, pollution and worsening drought, can now only be found in a few isolated streams in Alabama. However, thanks to a recent petition by the Center for Biological Diversity, the stippled studfish may gain new federal protections under the Endangered Species Act, ESA.
Following the Center’s petition, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined that the stippled studfish may indeed warrant protection, including the fish among 10 species under active consideration for ESA protections.
“It’s great news that these dazzling, freckly fish are one step closer to being protected under the Endangered Species Act,” said Meg Townsend, a freshwater attorney at the Center. “Stippled studfish have already completely disappeared from Georgia streams and without strong safeguards the few remaining populations in Alabama could also be lost forever.”
According to the Center, the stippled studfish was once found across the Tallapoosa River system in Alabama and Georgia. However, the species has not been sighted in Georgia since 1990, as the specific environmental conditions the Stippled Studfish relies on for spawning have been devastated by urban sprawl, poultry and livestock operations, clearcut logging, and increasing sedimentation and water temperatures. Additionally, the Center notes that the construction of dams and reservoirs throughout the Tallapoosa River watershed has further isolated the few populations of stippled studfish that remain.
Without increased protection under the Endangered Species Act, Townsend and others warn that these dangers will only continue to intensify.
“Saving the irreplaceable Stippled Studfish means safeguarding the character of the Southeast’s rivers themselves,” said Townsend. “Endangered Species Act protection gives us the chance, and the resources, to preserve the natural heritage and living systems that make our rivers truly extraordinary.”
Having formally accepted the Center’s petition, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will now undertake a 12-month status review to determine whether the stippled studfish warrants protection under the Endangered Species Act. If the Service finds protection warranted after a positive review, the Stippled Studfish may then be added to the official List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife, allowing the Service to develop and execute population recovery plans, purchase important habitat, and take other actions to protect and conserve the species.
Anyone who may have any information concerning the status of, or threats to, the Stippled Studfish can submit public comment here for consideration during the status review period.
