The Fish and Wildlife Service has tagged the Roanoke logperch as an Endangered Species Act success story, in a marked turnaround for a freshwater fish that once complicated plans for the Mountain Valley pipeline.
When it was listed as endangered in 1989, the species that some call the “King of the Darters” for its relatively large size was confined to 14 streams in Virginia and North Carolina. It now occupies 31 streams and, according to FWS, it no longer faces the threat of extinction.
“The recovery and delisting of the Roanoke logperch is proof that conservation works best when it’s locally driven, science-based and free of unnecessary federal red tape,” FWS Principal Deputy Director Justin “J” Shirley said in a statement.
In announcing the final delisting decision, Shirley said that “this success story shows how private landowners, states and communities can lead the way in protecting species while promoting economic growth and responsible use of our natural resources.”
