If the success of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is measured by the number of endangered species that have been recovered and delisted, then the act is not very successful. Only 15 species have been delisted because of recovery in the history of the ESA. The Borax Lake chub (Gila boraxobius), an endangered species restricted to an Oregon spring system, is considered to be on the brink of recovery and may warrant future delisting. A panel of scientists was convened to determine consensus regarding the species' listing status by reviewing: (1) current habitat conditions, (2) implementation of the recovery plan, and (3) applicability of ESA listing factors. Despite substantial progress towards recovery, threats to the species remain, including habitat degradation and the potential introduction of nonnative species. These are problems common to many fishes of highly restricted distribution. Because the Borax Lake chub occurs in a single spring system, the species remains vulnerable to catastrophic loss and requires continuing protection afforded by the ESA. Like many spring-dwelling fishes with a restricted range, recovery of the Borax Lake chub to the point where ESA protection is no longer required is an admirable but largely unobtainable goal. Prevention of extinction rather than delisting is a more appropriate measure of ESA success for such species.

This work was funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife through a National Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Program (NWCRP) Grant No. R-01-1.

Continued stock declines in marine fisheries have resulted in a search for more risk-averse management approaches. In response, the Sustainable Fisheries Act of 1996 mandates habitat protection, bs catch reduction, and stock rebuilding. These changes emphasize precaution, and imply a shift in focus from maximizing yields to minimizing ecological impacts and maintaining long-term biological and economic sustainability: Unfortunately: there is little consensus on how a precautionary approach should be applied in managing overcapitalized marine fisheries, especially considering the substantial uncertainty in our understanding of ecosystem structure and function, and the effects of fishing. Speakers in a half-day symposium at the 1999 AFS Annual Meeting discussed a spectrum of: topics relating to analytic and decision-making uncertainty, precautionary management approaches, the social and political context in which decisions must be reached and the role of management decisions in creating incentives. New approaches within the current decision-making context show some promise for reducing uncertainty and becoming more risk-averse. However, past lessons force us to conclude that the old methods will not satisfy the new mandates for risk-averse management approaches that are robust to both uncertainty regarding the effects of fishing on the ecosystem, and uncertainty regarding the effects of regulations on those being regulated. This paper is a synthesis of the diverse views of nine symposium participants. Speakers and the titles of their payers are shown in the acknowledgments.

FisheriesVolume 25, Issue 11 p. 6-30 Article Marine, Estuarine, and Diadromous Fish Stocks at Risk of Extinction in North America (Exclusive of Pacific Salmonids) J. A. Musick, J. A. MusickSearch for more papers by this authorM. M. Harbin, M. M. HarbinSearch for more papers by this authorS. A. Berkeley, S. A. Berkeley Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, Oregon, USASearch for more papers by this authorG. H. Burgess, G. H. Burgess Museum Operations at Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville, USASearch for more papers by this authorA. M. Eklund, A. M. Eklund Southeast Fisheries Science Center in Miami, Florida, USASearch for more papers by this authorL. Findley, L. Findley Biodiversity Program at Research Center for Foods and Development-Guaymas Unit, Mexico, USASearch for more papers by this authorR. G. Gilmore, R. G. Gilmore Dynamic Corporation, Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USASearch for more papers by this authorJ. T. Golden, J. T. GoldenSearch for more papers by this authorD. S. Ha, D. S. HaSearch for more papers by this authorG. R. Huntsman, G. R. Huntsman National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) laboratory in Beaufort, North Carolina, USASearch for more papers by this authorJ. C. McGovern, J. C. McGovernSearch for more papers by this authorG. R. Sedberry, G. R. SedberrySearch for more papers by this authorS. J. Parker, S. J. ParkerSearch for more papers by this authorS. G. Poss, S. G. Poss Gulf Coast Research Laboratory Museum, USASearch for more papers by this authorE. Sala, E. Sala Scripps Institute of Oceanography in La Jolla, California, USASearch for more papers by this authorT. W. Schmidt, T. W. SchmidtSearch for more papers by this authorH. Weeks, H. Weeks Oregon State University in Newport, USASearch for more papers by this authorS. G. Wright, S. G. WrightSearch for more papers by this author J. A. Musick, J. A. MusickSearch for more papers by this authorM. M. Harbin, M. M. HarbinSearch for more papers by this authorS. A. Berkeley, S. A. Berkeley Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, Oregon, USASearch for more papers by this authorG. H. Burgess, G. H. Burgess Museum Operations at Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville, USASearch for more papers by this authorA. M. Eklund, A. M. Eklund Southeast Fisheries Science Center in Miami, Florida, USASearch for more papers by this authorL. Findley, L. Findley Biodiversity Program at Research Center for Foods and Development-Guaymas Unit, Mexico, USASearch for more papers by this authorR. G. Gilmore, R. G. Gilmore Dynamic Corporation, Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USASearch for more papers by this authorJ. T. Golden, J. T. GoldenSearch for more papers by this authorD. S. Ha, D. S. HaSearch for more papers by this authorG. R. Huntsman, G. R. Huntsman National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) laboratory in Beaufort, North Carolina, USASearch for more papers by this authorJ. C. McGovern, J. C. McGovernSearch for more papers by this authorG. R. Sedberry, G. R. SedberrySearch for more papers by this authorS. J. Parker, S. J. ParkerSearch for more papers by this authorS. G. Poss, S. G. Poss Gulf Coast Research Laboratory Museum, USASearch for more papers by this authorE. Sala, E. Sala Scripps Institute of Oceanography in La Jolla, California, USASearch for more papers by this authorT. W. Schmidt, T. W. SchmidtSearch for more papers by this authorH. Weeks, H. Weeks Oregon State University in Newport, USASearch for more papers by this authorS. G. Wright, S. G. WrightSearch for more papers by this author First published: 09 January 2011 https://doi.org/10.1577/1548-8446(2000)025<0006:MEADFS>2.0.CO;2Citations: 131AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Citing Literature Volume25, Issue11November 2000Pages 6-30 RelatedInformation