6043

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 6043
• Author: Desert Fishes Council ‎(Edwin Pister, e.
• Title: A Summary of the Proceeding of the Tenth Annual Symposium.
• USFW Year: 1978.
• USFW - Doc Type: November 16-18, 1978.
• Copyright Material: NO

THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE TENTH ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM
Introduction
The Tenth Annual Symposium was held on November 16-17, 1978 at the
Holiday Inn de Las Cruces, Las Cruces, N.M. and was co-hosted by the New
Mexico State University Chapter of the American Fisheries Society and
the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. The group was welcomed to
the area by Dr. William H. Matchett, Dean of New Mexico State's graduate
school, following which Dr. John Hubbard of the New Mexico Department
of Game and Fish outlined New Mexico's nongame program. Dr. Hubbard
reported that the nongame program is the Department's first to be,
financed from general fund revenues. Four biologists are now involved
in the nongame program which covers (among the other nongame taxa) 60
native fishes. At this point invertebrate jurisdiction is limited to
molluscs and crustaceans. Dr. Hubbard requests the assistance and ideas
of other agencies in setting up New Mexico's program.
Endangered Species Act
Dr. James E. Williams, Staff Ichthyologist with the Office of
Endangered Species, Washington, D.C., reported on the current status of
the Endangered Species Act and the Office of Endangered Species. At that
time things were in a very unsettled state owing to very recent amendments
in the act which were not yet thoroughly understood (the legislation was
signed late on Friday, November 10). The amended act was renewed for
18 months, and will be in a state of re-evaluation until then. It was
Dr. Williams' understanding that a high level review board and committee
will be established to consider irreconcilable cases, such as Tellico Dam,
consisting of the secretaries of the Army, Interior, and Agriculture;
the administrators of N.O.A.A., and the Environmental Protection Agency;
a representative of the state (or states) involved; and the Chairman of
the Council of Economic Advisors. Five of the seven representatives
would need to vote in favor of exemption from the Endangered Species
Act for such an exemption to be granted.
Much concern was expressed as to how political this board might
become. In general, the next year will be a very critical time relative
to endangered species management. Much care must be exercised to keep
public opinion in favor of the concepts involved. Under the new
circumstances, the speed of action of the O.E.S. will be slowed considerably.
If extinctions are expected to occur following a Board action, 30
days are granted to work out the problems of making introductions into
new areas. We may expect a re-definition of critical habitat; i.e., the
specific area occupied by a species on which are found the requirements of
a species, including any outside areas necessary for its continued existence.
It is now necessary that consideration be given to the economic impact
of specifying critical habitat, and local government must be notified of
any plans in this respect.