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Why should anyone care about saving endangered fish? Legal basis Because these fish are so rare, they are prolected by state laws and the federal Endangered Species Act. In passing this act, Congress was retlecting the belief that rare species should be saved whenever possible. Environmental reasons Human impact has caused 40 species and subspecies of fish to go extinct in North America Ihis century. Some biologists theorize that - like the coal-miner's canary, whose dealh forewarns workers of toxic gases underground - the decline of these fish may be a warning that other native species of Ihe Colorado River ecosystem also are at risk. Sport-fishing Until the early 1900s, squawfish were the Colorado River's top predator. Anglers were known to catch these fish using mice, birds and even small rabbits as bait. If the fish can be recovered, tomorrow's anglers may gain the chance to reel in Colorado squawfish weighing 151020 pounds. Ecosystem balance, scientific benefits Scientific research has shown that losing one species in an ecosyslem can cause a chain reaction affecting a series of other living things. Also, the species' unique genetic material and potential medical, industrial and agricultural benefits would be gone forever. Heritage Colorado squawfish and razorback suckers evolved more than 3 million years ago. Modem man h<ls existed only about 100,000 to 250,000 years. These fish are part of the West's heritage and are round nowhere else in the world. ,Philosophical reasons · . As Aldo Leopold, one of the founders of the .::onservation movement, said, .. '" If the land . iTlechanislll as a whole is good, then every part is . .good, whether we understand it or not .., .. --.. What is being done to recover the endangered fish? Non-native species and sport-fishing Biologists are moniloring long-term populution Irends in native and non-native fish species and arc sludying competition between Ihe (wo. Stocking of non-native fish is limiled to areas where there appears to be no connicl with the four native fish species. Information is being distributed to anglers 10 reduce accidenlaltaking of the fish. Habitat management Recovcry Program funds are used 10 identify and nCLJuire adequate in-slream flows for the fish in accordance with state water laws Olnd interstate compacts. Research is under way 10 determine how to operate federal dams 10 benefit the fish. Habitat development Researchers arc finding ways 10 create, protecl and improve habilat for the fish. Projects mOlY include developing spawning habitat and grow-out ponds and eonstrueling fish pOlssageways or "ladders" around barriers. Stocking native fish Researchers are developing techniqucs to improve Ihc survival of endangered fish raised in captivily and slocked in the wild. They also are spawning ral.Orhack suckers to be reintroduced 10 lhe wild and used in recovery-relalcd research. t ,. ~ ~ J! > u l[ >. a ~ ~l Research, monitoring and data management Recovery Program research involves making recolllmcndat ions on ri vcr flows, eva luat i ng the gcnelics of fish populations from different river systems, developing facilities to hold rare fish in proleclive ponds, evalualing hehavioral differcnces in hatchery Olnd wild fish and establishing adull brood stock for Colorado sC)uawfish and razorback suckers. Dala from all sludies are being compiled in a centralil'.ed compuler database.