The Fish and Wildlife Service on Monday proposed Endangered Species Act protections for a Florida crawfish and two equally unassuming Alabama mussels that share an acute sensitivity to challenges including climate change.
Citing in part some newfound observations, the federal agency reversed an earlier call and proposed listing Florida’s Black Creek crawfish as endangered. As part of the listing proposal, FWS also identified approximately 656 miles of streams in Clay, Duval, Putnam and St. Johns counties as critical habitat
In 2021, FWS determined the Black Creek crawfish did not warrant protection under the ESA. Last year, however, FWS said it received new information about the threats posed by a competing species, the white tubercled crawfish.
“We take public and partner input very seriously, and it is an important part of our review process,” Lourdes Mena, manager of the classification and recovery division within FWS’ Florida office, said in a statement. “The new information from the state agency, researchers, and the public helped us decide that listing this species as endangered is the best approach.”
