| Gulf Sturgeon Could Get Huge
Critical Habitat
(This is a VERY IMPORTANT ARTICLE from several standpoints: it provides information with which to send public comments -- deadline is September 23, 2002 -- it effects four states, but setting such a precedent will very likely cause a LOT of 'ripple effect' in such 'critical habitat' listings worldwide. The language stalking horses are in full evidence herein -- even the word 'could' in the title -- so please read carefully. Please remember that you may live ANYWHERE and send in public comments -- the right to use land/water is under siege in many places. Please consider helping the folks in these four states protect their OWN 'critical habitat!' Recovering sturgeon 'habitat' WILL HARM other species and their habitats.) June 6, 2002 PANAMA CITY, Florida (ENS) - Two federal agencies are proposing to designate critical habitat for the Gulf sturgeon along about 1,580 miles of rivers that empty into the Gulf of Mexico. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) are consider[ing] designating critical habitat for the Gulf sturgeon along portions of rivers, estuaries, and marine coastline in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. "This proposed critical habitat designation will provide non-regulatory benefits to the Gulf sturgeon by informing the public of areas that are important to the species recovery and identifying where conservation actions would be most effective," said Sam Hamilton, southeast regional director for the USFWS. The agencies were ordered to propose critical habitat by a federal court in Louisiana in a lawsuit brought by conservation groups. The same court order requires a final critical habitat determination by February 28, 2003. The agencies' proposal includes portions of the Pearl and Bogue Chitto Rivers in Louisiana and Mississippi; Pascagoula, Leaf, Bowie, Big Black Creek and Chickasawhay Rivers in Mississippi; Escambia, Conecuh and Sepulga Rivers in Alabama and Florida; Yellow, Blackwater and Shoal Rivers in Alabama and Florida; Choctawhatchee and Pea Rivers in Florida and Alabama; Apalachicola and Brothers Rivers in Florida; and Suwannee and Withlacoochee River in Florida. The proposal also includes portions of several estuaries and bays, including the Mississippi Sound, Apalachicola, Choctawhatchee and Pensacola bays in Florida, and Suwannee Sound and adjacent state waters within the Gulf of Mexico in Florida. The proposed critical habitat area covers about 1,580 river miles and 2,333 square miles of estuarine and marine habitat. "This critical habitat designation incorporates both historic and recent data to best describe areas occupied and utilized by the Gulf sturgeon," said Georgia Cranmore, assistant administrator for NMFS southeast region. "We continue to work with the latest information and just incorporated a May 2002 sighting into the proposed rule." More information about the Gulf sturgeon is available at: http://alabama.fws.gov/gs/ The agencies will accept comments on the proposal until September 23, 2002 by Fax: 850-763-2177 or email: gulfsturgeon@fws.gov |