The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is listing the San Francisco Bay-Delta distinct population segment (DPS) of longfin smelt as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
The fish is 3.5-4 inches in length and inhabits bays and estuaries along the West Coast from Northern California to Alaska. The DPS in question is being listed as a result of declining habitat loss from reductions and alterations in freshwater flow into the San Francisco Bay estuary.
Longfin smelt are currently listed as threatened under California’s ESA. Listing the smelt under the federal ESA will provide consistency between state and federal regulations and reduce separate requirements, the agency said.
