The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service is reopening a public comment period on its October 2022 proposal to list the San Francisco Bay-Delta longfin smelt.
The fish species is found along the Pacific Coast, reaching from Northern California to Alaska. In October 2022, the agency found the species warranted listing under the Endangered Species Act due to habitat loss from the long-term reduction and alteration of freshwater flows into the San Francisco Bay Estuary.
“Longfin smelt are currently listed as a threatened species under California’s Endangered Species Act (ESA), which prohibits unpermitted possession, purchase, sale or take of listed species,” the agency said.
“However, the state’s definition of take does not include harm, which under the federal ESA can include destruction of habitat.”
The comment period will remain open until March 29. Comments may be submitted at regulations.gov by searching for docket ID FWS-R8-ES-2022-0082.
