Nongame Wildlife Program

CDFW Nongame Program
1812 9^th Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
(916) 445-0411

Fish Species of Special Concern

List and Species Accounts

The following information is from the 1995 Department of Fish and Wildlife publication “Fish Species of Special Concern in California, Second Edition,” by P. B. Moyle, R. M. Yoshiyama, J. E. Williams, and E. D. Wikramanayake

List Criteria and Categories

In this species of special concern report there are species accounts on 55 taxa, of which 26 are recommended by the authors for threatened or endangered status in California and 27 others are regarded as needing special attention to prevent further declines. Two of the species are probably extinct in the state (pink salmon, High Rock Spring tui chub), but are included because some uncertainty about their status still exists. Since the report was published, the Spring-run chinook salmon have been listed by the State as threatened.

Presently, nine native fish taxa (including the two above) are extinct in California, and 18 are formally listed as threatened or endangered. The remaining 38 of the 116 native fish taxa are considered still to be secure.

Information on the biology of each taxon from the literature and from unpublished sources was compiled and analyzed by Moyle, Yoshiyama, Williams, and Wikramanayake. Then the authors gave each taxon a status rating. This rating was assigned only after consultation with other individuals knowledgeable about the species, although Moyle, Yoshiyama, Williams, and Wikramanayake take full responsibility for the final status assignments. The rating system used by was as follows:

Class 1. Endangered or Threatened

These are 26 taxa that conform to the state definitions of threatened or endangered species and could qualify for addition to the official list. This designation does not necessarily mean that the fishes should be added to the list; formal listing may be justifiably avoided or postponed, provided there are ongoing efforts to protect and enhance populations of these fishes, as is currently happening for the four taxa of Goose Lake fishes.

Class 2. Special Concern

These 12 taxa have low, scattered, or highly localized populations and require active management to prevent them from becoming Class 1 species. Most of these species have declined in abundance in recent years and need to have this trend reversed. Some of the species (e.g., Death Valley pupfishes) have highly localized populations that are stable but are faced with long-term environmental threats that may cause a sudden diminution in numbers.

Class 3. Watch List

These are 15 taxa occupying much of their native range, but were formerly more widespread or abundant within that range. Taxa with very restricted distributions (e.g., Eagle Lake tui chub) are also included here. The populations of such species need to be assessed periodically (i.e., every five years) and included in long-term plans for protected waterways (e.g., ADMAs).

Class 4. Secure

These are the 38 species or forms not extinct, not listed as threatened or endangered, and not included in this report. We assume, often based on extremely limited data, that their populations are either stable, expanding or, if declining, still reasonably abundant.