Status Review of Eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus) in Washington, Oregon, and California

On 27 November 2007, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) received a petition seeking to list southern eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus), as a threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973. NMFS evaluated the petition to determine whether the petitioner provided substantial information as required by the ESA to list a species. Additionally, NMFS evaluated whether information contained in the petition might support the identification of a distinct population segment (DPS) that may warrant listing as a species under the ESA. NMFS determined that the 27 November 2007 petition did present substantial scientific and commercial information, or cited such information in other sources, that the petitioned action may be warranted and, subsequently, NMFS initiated an updated status review of eulachon in Washington, Oregon, and California.

The Eulachon Biological Review Team (BRT)—consisting of scientists from the Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Forest Service—was formed by NMFS, and the team reviewed and evaluated scientific information compiled by NMFS staff from published literature and unpublished data. Information presented at a public meeting in June 2008 in Seattle, Washington, and data submitted from state agencies and other interested parties were also considered. The BRT also reviewed additional information submitted to the ESA Administrative Record.