WildEarth Guardians

Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Gulf Coast Fish will be Considered for Endangered Species Act Protection

Saltmarsh Topminnow Threatened by Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Coastal Development
Contact: Taylor Jones (303) 353-1490

Washington, DC –  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service will publish in tomorrow’s Federal Register their finding that the saltmarsh topminnow, a small grey-green Gulf Coast fish, is facing such severe threats that the Fish and Wildlife Service will conduct a status review to determine if the species warrants listing under the Endangered Species Act.

Topminnows are found in brackish, shallow tidal meanders along the northern Gulf of Mexico from the Escambia River (Florida) to Galveston Bay (Texas). The topminnow and its coastal saltmarsh habitat were likely impacted by the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. Pollution from an oil spill is long-lasting: it can damage a wetland for several decades. In addition to catastrophic events such as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, pollution from regular oil and gas development activities cause damage as well. Scientists acknowledge that pollution from the oil industry has long-term effects on wetlands in general and saltmarshes in particular. For example, both the federal and Texas state governments have recognized that long-term oil refining activities have significantly polluted coastal land straddling the Texas-Louisiana border (in particular, the Port Arthur, Texas, area). 

“Protecting the topminnow means protecting salt marshes, which in turn protects coastal communities,” said Taylor Jones, Endangered Species Advocate for WildEarth Guardians. 

Coastal wetlands are home to rich biodiversity and also buffer inland human and natural communities from storms. But wetlands are disappearing along the Gulf Coast, mainly due to development, port construction, levee and canal construction, and gas and oil development. A particular threat to the topminnow is the dock-side gaming industry of Mississippi and Louisiana, the success of which has led developers to create ever-larger offshore casinos that drain wetlands. Rising sea levels, driven in part by climate change, also threaten to inundate the topminnow’s habitat.

WildEarth Guardians petitioned the federal government to list the topminnow as “threatened” or “endangered” under the ESA and to provide immediate assistance to the beleaguered fish by protecting it under the emergency listing provisions of the act. Despite likely impacts from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the Fish and Wildlife Service declined to emergency list the fish, instead initiating the regular ESA listing process, which will take, at minimum, two years to complete.

“We are pleased the Service sees the need to take action,” continued Jones. “We just hope help comes in time to save the topminnow from extinction.”