Feds list coastal coho as endangered, sparking heated debate

October 25, 1996
Web posted at: 11:59 p.m. EDT

SAN FRANCISCO (CNN) -- With California's coastal coho salmon population on the brink of extinction, the National Marine Fisheries Service said Friday it will move to protect the fish as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.

The NMFS said it was deferring by six months a decision on whether to list two other coho salmon populations found in northern California and Oregon because of scientific disagreement over how many they are and the degree to which they are threatened.

"We have decided to list the central California coho populations as a threatened species under the endangered specials act," said Hilda Diaz-Soltero, Fisheries Service Southwest regional administrator.

The listing decision was seen as highly sensitive in an election year. California Gov. Pete Wilson, a Republican, and Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber, a Democrat, had both asked the NMFS to delay a decision.

Once a species is listed under the Endangered Species Act, industrial activity, development and water usage that could harm its habitat are closely scrutinized by the authorities, and that could lead to restrictions on logging, farming and other development.

Too little too late?

But environmentalists have decried Friday's move as too little too late.

They are angry that the Coho was only listed as threatened in one part of the state, from Santa Cruz north to Punta Gorda, the western most point of California.

"If you've got a stream with ten living coho salmon what do you think the chances are for the salmon?" asked Kathy Bailey of the Sierra Club.

Logging, farming, mining and urbanization and flood control all destroy streams, leading to the disappearance of the Coho, scientists have said.

According to one federal government estimate, fewer than 6,000 coho are returning annually to spawning streams in central California that traditionally supported 50,000 to 125,000 coho.

Timber interests say coho numbers are up

But a timber industry spokesman said that since the California drought ended three years ago coho are coming back.

One sticking point in the debate: Neither side has hard numbers.

"We're staring to see substantial increases in those populations," said Dave Bischel of the California Forestry Association.

Not so said commercial salmon fisherman Duncan Maclean, who says it will take a lot more than rain to bring back the coho. "Those stocks have been devastated by habitat degradation."

Environmentalists also expressed concern the six month delay could mean a green light for logging ancient redwood groves known as the Headwaters, already the site of a huge timber controversy.

"By allowing timber companies to continue logging at unsustainable rates and destroying coho salmon habitat, the National Marine Fisheries Service is choosing to let this majestic species go extinct," Sierra Club official Elyssa Rosen said in a statement.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Related stories:

• Senate keeps moratorium on endangered species - March 14, 1996
• Ancient giants fall under new timber rules - February 7, 1996

Related sites:

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• National Marine Fisheries Service
• Mendocino Environmental Center: Groups Sue to Protect Coho Salmon Coastwide

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