Pearl darter
Pearl Darter Recovery Plan
Click here to read Recovery Plan for the Pearl Darter (photo courtesy Matt Wagner)
US Fish and Wildlife Service "Pearl Darter Recovery Plan" announcement, June 2023:
“'The main reason the pearl darter was listed as threatened was its extirpation from the Pearl River which greatly reduced the redundancy of the species and confined it to a single drainage,' said Fish and Wildlife Biologist Matt Wagner. 'Successful reintroduction into the Pearl River will help us recover the species,' he further added.
Wagner is the species lead for the pearl darter.
The pearl darter used to live in the Pascagoula River system of Mississippi, and the Pearl River system of Mississippi and Louisiana. Now the pearl darter only lives in the Pascagoula River system.
Private John Allen National Fish Hatchery successfully raised pearl darters and has had three successful spawns since 2018. With a controlled propagation and introduction plan, the Service will work with private landowners and its partners to bring the pearl darter back to the Pearl River system.
The recovery plan also includes monitoring, surveying and research of the species. The goal of the recovery plan is to ensure it can survive long-term in both the Pascagoula and Pearl River systems to the point that it is no longer threatened."
"The Service listed the pearl darter as threatened in 2017 along with a 4(d) rule to provide for conservation of the species. The pearl darter suffers from population declines due to poor water quality and degraded stream and river channels. Pollution from runoff and wastewater from treatment plants and industrial sites continue to affect the pearl darter’s remaining habitats.
With low population numbers, the pearl darter only lives in a few places. Remaining populations have low genetic diversity making them more vulnerable to drought, storms, and chemical spills."
Recovery plan: https://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/20230602_Final_RP_Pearl%20Darter.pdf
“'The main reason the pearl darter was listed as threatened was its extirpation from the Pearl River which greatly reduced the redundancy of the species and confined it to a single drainage,' said Fish and Wildlife Biologist Matt Wagner. 'Successful reintroduction into the Pearl River will help us recover the species,' he further added.
Wagner is the species lead for the pearl darter.
The pearl darter used to live in the Pascagoula River system of Mississippi, and the Pearl River system of Mississippi and Louisiana. Now the pearl darter only lives in the Pascagoula River system.
Private John Allen National Fish Hatchery successfully raised pearl darters and has had three successful spawns since 2018. With a controlled propagation and introduction plan, the Service will work with private landowners and its partners to bring the pearl darter back to the Pearl River system.
The recovery plan also includes monitoring, surveying and research of the species. The goal of the recovery plan is to ensure it can survive long-term in both the Pascagoula and Pearl River systems to the point that it is no longer threatened."
"The Service listed the pearl darter as threatened in 2017 along with a 4(d) rule to provide for conservation of the species. The pearl darter suffers from population declines due to poor water quality and degraded stream and river channels. Pollution from runoff and wastewater from treatment plants and industrial sites continue to affect the pearl darter’s remaining habitats.
With low population numbers, the pearl darter only lives in a few places. Remaining populations have low genetic diversity making them more vulnerable to drought, storms, and chemical spills."
Recovery plan: https://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/20230602_Final_RP_Pearl%20Darter.pdf
Pearl Darter Designation of Critical Habitat
Click map to view USFWS Designation of Critical Habitat for Pearl Darter (Percina aurora)
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Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for Pearl Darter
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Final rule. "SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), designate critical habitat for the pearl darter (Percina aurora) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended. In total, approximately 524 river miles (843 river kilometers) in Clarke, Covington, Forrest, George, Green, Lauderdale, Jackson, Jones, Newton, Perry, Simpson, Stone, and Wayne Counties, Mississippi, fall within the boundaries of the critical habitat designation. The effect of this regulation is to designate critical habitat for the pearl darter under the Act. DATES: This rule is effective May 8, 2023." (https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2023-04-06/pdf/2023-07081.pdf) |
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In July 2023, 50 years after the establishment of the Endangered Species Act and 50 years after the last Pearl darter was seen in the Pearl River drainage, 39 Pearl darters were reintroduced to their native home. USFWS's Matt Wagner called this event "the biggest win in his career as a biologist”. The Pearl darters, raised at the Private John Allen National Fish Hatchery were released to the Strong River near the Strong River Camp and Farm.
Read more about the historic Pearl darter reintroduction here: https://apnews.com/article/pearl-river-darter-hatchlings-threatened-species-0ca3d3e9d7d67f683d57c82bc37f183e |
