Number: 1988-18
WHEREAS, the Gulf race of striped bass and the Gulf of Mexico sturgeon once were common in coastal river systems from Louisiana to Florida; and
WHEREAS, dams, poor water quality, habitat loss, pesticides, and overexploitation have been important factors contributing to the near extinction of Gulf race striped bass and Gulf of Mexico sturgeon; and
WHEREAS, only a remnant population of the Gulf striped bass exists in the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, and Flint (ACF) River Systems; and
WHEREAS, in 1978, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined that the Gulf race striped bass was threatened with extinction and considered listing it under the Endangered Species Act; and
WHEREAS, the Gulf States opposed this action and controversy was resolved by a cooperative restoration agreement between the States of Florida, Georgia and Alabama, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and
WHEREAS, cooperative efforts following this agreement resulted in stocking of hatchery-produced Gulf race striped bass into the ACF system beginning in 1980; and
WHEREAS, these efforts have helped to stabilize only the native striped bass population in the ACF, while the sturgeon population continues to decline at an alarming rate; and
WHEREAS, existing hatchery facilities are not capable of producing sturgeon or supplying other coastal river systems with striped bass for restoration efforts; and
WHEREAS, re-establishment of the stocks of Gulf race striped bass and Gulf of Mexico sturgeon in major river systems in the Gulf would help preserve these genetically important fish as well as re-establish important sport fisheries;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation in annual meeting assembled March 17-20, 1988, in New Orleans, Louisiana urges development of a regional Federal/State hatchery program and cooperative habitat restoration effort to restore to Gulf rivers and coastal waters populations of the Gulf race of striped bass and Gulf of Mexico sturgeon; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, if efforts to develop a viable restoration program for the Gulf of Mexico sturgeon are unsuccessful, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in cooperation with other relevant State and Federal agencies and organizations, act to list the species as endangered under provisions of the Endangered Species Act.