Endangered Fish Population by State

Development, climate change, pollution, and increased human population are a threat to fish and wildlife. Thus, some fish populations in the U.S. have been listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

The United States occupies a large area with varying climatic regions, many freshwater bodies, and several areas bordering major oceans. The nation’s flora and fauna are diverse, supporting different fish species across the 50 states.

Fish provide America with food, earnings in exports, and sport fishing. Overfishing, habitat loss, and human activities are the key reasons for diminishing fish populations within the country. Today, conservation awareness and government policies are the main efforts contributing to a sustainable fish population.

Here, we cover endangered fish populations by state according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) from their Environmental Conservation Online System (ECOS).

How Does a Species Qualify to Become Endangered?

An endangered plant or animal is one that is at risk of extinction throughout significant parts of its previously known habitat. However, do not confuse an endangered species with a threatened one. A threatened plant or animal is a species that is likely to become endangered in its natural habitat.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service maintains an endangered and threatened species database using its Environmental Conservation Online System. A species qualifies for inclusion if it is determined to be endangered or threatened because of the following reasons:

• Species’ habitat is under or facing destruction, change, or other restraints
• Overuse of the species either for consumption, trade, sport, or education and research
• Threat from disease or predation
• Lack or inadequacy of regulating laws
• Natural or human factors interfering with the species’ survival

Who Determines a Species is Endangered?

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 is among the best conservation laws enacted by any country. The United States Congress passed the ESA to avert extinctions facing all types of species, including plants, mammals, fishes, insects, and others.

The act aims to conserve the ecosystem’s endangered and threatened flora and fauna. It aims to protect the ecosystems on which the different species depend.

To implement the Endangered Species Act, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service department works in collaboration with bodies like:

• National Marine Fisheries Services
• Federal agencies
• Local agencies
• Non-government organizations
• Local tribes
• Private citizens
• Researchers
• Environment and animal lovers

What Does the Listing of a Species in the ECOS Mean?

Listing a species endangered or threatened by FWS protects the animal or plant. The measures include:

• Protection from Federal activities that threaten the species’ population
• Restriction on harvesting, taking, selling, or transporting the species
• Authorization of developing and carrying out recovery plans
• Purchasing an important habitat
• Granting of federal aid for conservation to State, Commonwealth, and other wildlife agencies that have an agreement with the government

These efforts contribute to mitigation measures that ensure species survival. They also help achieve the ultimate goal of conserving the population of plants and animals. Through the Act, FWS helps to maintain the natural biodiversity and the ecosystem on which an endangered or threatened species depends.

What is the Native Fish of the United States of America?

North America is home to different fish species inland and in surrounding oceans. Native fish found in the U.S. include:

Pacific Cod

Gadus macrocephalus is a large fish reaching lengths of 3 feet and can weigh 33 pounds as an adult. It has whiskers like the catfish on the lower jaw and three unconnected dorsal fins. It is mainly found in the Yellow Sea and the Pacific Ocean at depths of 3,000 feet.

The government highly regulates Pacific cod fishing by setting quotas for fishermen. The fish is currently not among the endangered species.

Longnose Gar

These gars are a freshwater fish common along the eastern coasts of Central and North America. The species is primitive, and archaeological evidence shows that longnose gar was present in Africa, America, Asia, and Europe 100 million years ago.

Sturgeon Chub

These are small, slim fish measuring up to 3 inches. They have a long flat mouth similar to the Atlantic sturgeon. They inhabit rivers with gravel bottoms and fast currents.

Summary of Notable Fishes of North America

Endangered Fish Population by State

The following is a summary of endangered fish populations by state according to the Environmental Conservation Online System (ECOS) of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Alabama – 8

Alaska – 0

According to the ECOS U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service database, Alaska has no endangered fish population.

Arizona – 12

The following are the endangered fish population in Arizona:

Arkansas – 2

California – 14

Colorado – 3

The state of Colorado has three endangered fish populations.

Connecticut – 0

According to the ECOS U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service database, Connecticut has no endangered fish population.

Delaware – 0

According to the ECOS U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service database, Delaware has no endangered fish population.

Florida – 0

According to the ECOS U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service database, Florida has no endangered fish population.

Georgia – 3

Hawaii – 0

Although the state leads with the number of listed species (484), no fish is endangered or threatened. The Hawaii State Fish is the tiger fish with a long name, Humuhumunukunukuapuaa.

Idaho – 1

Idaho has 17 different species listed in the ECOS, and only two are fish. The endangered fish population in Idaho is the white sturgeon, Acipenser Transmontanus.

Illinois – 1

The pallid sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus albus, is the only fish appearing on the list of 33 different species of Illinois listed in the ECOS. The status is endangered.

Indiana – 0

Although Indiana doesn’t have coastal waters or tropical reefs, its freshwater bodies are abundant with many fish species. The state offers an opportunity to meet with some of the largest freshwater fishes in the United States. The most common fish species in Indiana’s waters are:

• Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)
• Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)
• Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)

Iowa – 2

Kansas – 3

Kansas has six fish species under the ECOS list. Three of them are at risk of extinction. They are:

Kentucky – 5

Six fish species in Kentucky are on the FWS ECOS list. Five are under the endangered fish population. They are:

Louisiana – 1

Louisiana has two fish species listed under ECOS, including the pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus), which is endangered.

Maine – 1

The Atlantic salmon Salmo salar population in Maine is endangered and is the only fish species under Maine’s list of ECOS.

Maryland – 1

Maryland has 23 different species listed under ECOS. The state’s list has only one endangered fish, the Maryland darter (Etheostoma sellare).

Massachusetts – 0

According to the ECOS U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service database, Massachusetts has no endangered fish population.

Michigan – 0

According to the ECOS U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service database, Michigan has no endangered fish population.

Minnesota – 1

The endangered fish population in the state is the topeka shiner, Notropis topeka (=tristis). It’s the only fish appearing on the 21 listed species of Minnesota under ECOS.

Mississippi – 1

Mississippi has four fish on the ECOS list, but only the pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) population is at risk of extinction.

Missouri – 3

Out of the seven fish species of Missouri, only three are under the endangered fish population.

Montana – 2

Of the three fish species listed in the state, two are endangered: the pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) and the white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus).

Nebraska – 2

The ECOS list shows two fish species in Nebraska that are both at risk of extinction. They are:

• Pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus)
• Topeka shiner (Notropis Topeka)  

Nevada – 18

Of the 25 fish species listed in ECOS of Nevada, 18 are at risk of extinction.

New Hampshire – 0

According to the ECOS U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service database, New Hampshire has no endangered fish population. However, the Native Fish Coalition (NFC) of New Hampshire says fish face many threats and challenges in the state. According to NFC, the state has lost two charr species:

• Arctic charr (Sunapee trout)
• Silver trout

New Jersey – 0

According to the ECOS U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service database, New Jersey has no endangered fish population.

New Mexico – 10

There are 15 fish species listed on ECOS from New Mexico, and 10 types are at risk of extinction. They are:

New York – 0

New York State has the largest city in the United States. Luckily development and the human population in the state are not threatening the fish population. No fish species in New York are under the radar of FWS.

North Carolina – 3

There are six fish species listed in North Carolina under ECOS. Three of them fall under the endangered fish population. They are:

• The Roanoke logperch (Percina rex)
• The Carolina madtom (Noturus furiosus)
• The Cape Fear shiner (Notropis mekistocholas)

North Dakota – 1

North Dakota has only one fish on the ECOS list, the pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus), and is the only endangered fish population in North Dakota.

Ohio – 1

The Scioto madtom (Noturus trautmani) population is endangered in Ohio and the only fish species listed under ECOS.

Oklahoma – 1

Oklahoma has five fish species under the ECOS list, but only one is endangered, the peppered chub (Macrhybopsis tetranema).

Oregon – 3

Oregon has three species of endangered fish population out of the seven listed under ECOS. They are:

• The Lost River sucker (Deltistes luxatus)
• The Shortnose Sucker (Chasmistes brevirostris)
• The Tidewater goby (Eucyclogobius newberryi)

Pennsylvania – 0

According to the ECOS U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service database, Pennsylvania has no endangered fish population.

Rhode Island – 0

According to the ECOS U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service database, Rhode Island has no endangered fish population.

South Carolina – 0

According to the ECOS U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service database, South Carolina has no endangered fish population.

South Dakota – 2

South Dakota has only two endangered fish on the ECOS list.

• Pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus)
• Topeka shiner (Notropis Topeka)

Tennessee – 12

The state of Tennessee has 34 fish species listed under ECOS. Eleven types are endangered.

Texas – 12

Of the 15 fish species listed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in ECOS, 12 are endangered. They are:

Utah – 5

Ten Utah fish species are listed in the ECOS, and half their population is endangered. They are:

Vermont – 0

Vermont has the lowest number listed by FWS in the ECOS list among the 50 states at only six species, and none is a fish.

Virginia – 3

Out of the nine fish species of Virginia listed by FWS in ECOS, three are endangered. They are

• Candy darter (Etheostoma osburni)
• Duskytail darter (Etheostoma percnurum)
• Roanoke logperch (Percina rex)

Washington – 0

Washington has no endangered fish population. However, the Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) is threatened.

West Virginia – 2

There are two types of endangered fish populations in West Virginia, and the only fishes in the state under ECOS. They are:

• Candy darter (Etheostoma osburni)
• Diamond darter (Crystallaria cincotta)

Wisconsin – 0

According to the ECOS U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service database, Wisconsin has no endangered fish population.

Wyoming – 4

Wyoming has five fish species under FWS’s radar; four are at risk of extinction.