ARISE

 

ONE TWO THREE

 

HOW TO DEFINE? LET'S ASK NOAA and USCS WHAT ENDANGERED, THREATENED, IMPERILED, and AT-RISK MEAN

First let's see what NOAA has to say...

OCEAN SERVICE : NOAA GOV THREATENED and ENDANGERED SPECIES

Excerpt: The ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT (ESA) defines an endangered species as "any species which is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range." Endangered species are automatically protected by prohibitions of several types of "take," including harming, harassing, collecting, or killing, under Section 9 of the ESA. There are some limited exceptions to these rules listed in Section 10 of the ESA. The Kemp's ridley turtle, considered the smallest marine turtle in the world, is listed as an endangered species throughout its range of the Gulf of America and entire U.S. Atlantic seaboard.

The ESA defines a threatened species as "any species which is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range." Threatened species receive protections through separate regulations issued under Section 4(d) of the ESA. These regulations occur separately from the listing and detail what take prohibitions are in effect. Also called 4(d) rules, they can include the same prohibitions under Section 9. 

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USGS : ENDANGERED, THREATENED, AT RISK SPECIES

Excerpt: Under the ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT (ESA), plant and animal species may be listed as either endangered or threatened. “Endangered” means a species is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. “Threatened” means a species is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future.

States have their own ESA-type laws, so species can have different Threatened/Endangered statuses at the federal and state levels. The USGS typically refers to the federal status unless otherwise noted.

"Imperiled" or "at risk" are not legal terms under ESA, but more biological terms. Generally speaking, they are animals and plants that are in decline and may be in danger of extinction. Those terms can include species that are at low populations and near extinction but still not legally protected under ESA.

WORLD WILDLIFE FUND : WORKING IN NATURE'S AQUARIUM - THE GULF OF CALIFORNIA

WORLD WILDLIFE FUND - GULF OF CALIFORNIA

Excerpt: Wedged between the mainland of Mexico to the east and the Baja Peninsula to the west is the GULF OF CALIFORNIA.  

Described by French ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau as the world's aquarium, the gulf supports an extraordinary diversity of marine life, which includes endangered marine turtles and dolphins, coral reefs and over 900 different fish species.

The waters are also an important breeding area for the world's largest animal, the blue whale and other whales such as fin, sperm, orca and humpback.

But pressures from unsustainable tourism, development and commercial fishing are threatening the wildlife and the way of life for millions of people who depend on the sea for their livelihoods.

SEA SHEPERD : VASQUITA ON THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION : SEA OF CORTEZ : MEXICO : IT'S POSSIBLE ONLY TEN EXIST!

SEA SHEPHERD ORG : VAQUITA 

SEA SHEPHERD CREWS have spent over a decade in the upper Sea of Cortez defending the Vaquita Porpoise from the brink of extinction. Jacques Cousteau called the region, “the aquarium of the sea”. In spite of being endemic (non-migratory) to these nutrient-rich waters, scientists estimate only ten Vaquita remain today.

AXOLOTL : MEXICO'S ENDANGERED FISH : CRITICALLY ENDANGERED AXOLOTL : SALAMANDER WITH GILLS : HABITAT LAKE NEAR MEXICO CITY : MAYBE ONLY 50 -1000 LEFT IN THE WILD!

I must say that these Axolotl are some of the ----cutest ---- fish I've seen. But at a local library event I stopped in at recently, the children were crayoning coloring pages of this fish ---- and I had no idea it was actually critically endangered! My internet searches revealed that considering them play-things was common... IN FACT THERE ARE MANY YOUTUBE VIDEOS ENCOURAGING OWNERSHIP OF THIS FISH!!! 

I DON'T LIKE THAT IDEA AT ALL!

Endangered species do not belong in home aquariums. If you have such a creature in a home aquarium I ask you - please - to contact your closest aquarium or university that has a marine biology program. I would like to see such fish united in a marine environment where they can live a more normal fish life and possible reproduce...

Earth Org : Spotlight on endangered species AXOLOTL


Excerpt: Unlike other amphibians, the axolotl is neotenic and does not go through metamorphosis, thus remaining aquatic and retaining its juvenile features into adulthood. A popular pick for the exotic pet trade, the ever-smiling, feathery-gilled axolotl is easily bred in captivity, having further piqued the interest of scientists and geneticists through its ability to regenerate parts of its body, such as its limbs, eyes, heart, spinal cord and parts of its brain. As such, the species’ plight is regarded as a conservation paradox: although abundant in captivity, rampant habitat degradation and disturbance has rendered the species critically endangered in the wild.

TOTOABA : MEXICO'S ENDANGERED FISH : TOTOABA : FISHING ALSO ENDANGERING THE VAQUITA PORPOISE : DUAL EXTICTION DUE TO BYCATCH : SEA SHEPHARD ORG

PORPOISE CONSERVATION SOCIETY

Excerpt: Capable of reaching over six feet in length and weighing up to 220 pounds, these fish were once abundant in the region, serving as a staple for local communities and a thriving commercial fishery in the mid-20th century. However, overfishing and habitat degradation have led to a dramatic decline in totoaba populations, pushing them to the brink of extinction. ...

It is the totoaba’s swim bladder, an organ that helps the fish control its buoyancy, that has become the epicenter of a black-market boom. In traditional Chinese medicine, these swim bladders, known as “fish maws,” are believed to have numerous health benefits, including promoting longevity and vitality. This demand has driven up the price of totoaba swim bladders to astonishing levels, earning them the nickname “cocaine of the sea.”

The illegal fishing methods used to catch totoaba, particularly gillnets, have proven disastrous for the vaquita population. Gillnets, designed to catch fish by their gills, are indiscriminate, often trapping and killing vaquitas as bycatch. As a result, the vaquita, already struggling with declining numbers, has become collateral damage in the race to supply the lucrative totoaba trade.
A Dual Extinction

The intertwined fates of the vaquita and the totoaba have given rise to the term “dual extinction,” highlighting the fact that both species are teetering on the edge of oblivion. With the vaquita’s population plummeting to fewer than 20 individuals and the totoaba’s numbers in a critical state, urgent action is needed to prevent both species from disappearing forever.

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Did you know that you can bring up past posts about the Vaquita?  Use the search feature embedded in this blog!

CABRILLO MARINE AQUARIUM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SPECIES - INCLUDING THE BLACK ABALONE, ACORN BARNACLE, BLUE SHARKS, and SO MANY OTHERS

CABRILLO MARINE AQUARIUM : SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SPECIES  Check out this list ! Click on the photograph and go to the science facts!

Which of these creatures are considered to be HERBVORES because they eat algae?

OFFICIAL HAWIIAN OUTLOOK ON THE ENDANGERED MONK SEAL : HIGH ESTIMATE IS 1600 INDIVIDUALS

Excerpt: These seals are generalist feeders, meaning they eat all sorts of prey, including sea cucumbers, eel, octopus, lobster, and various reef fish. Seals have never been observed hunting pelagic fish, such as mahi-mahi, ahi, aku, etc. Monk seals can hold their breath for up to 20 minutes and dive to depths of more than 1,800 feet [1]. When searching for food they often flip rocks with their noses to find more cryptic prey [2]. Sometimes sharks and large predator fish follow the seals around and snatch up fish that seals spook into the open [3]. Monk seals spend about one-third of their time resting on land, preferring sandy beaches, tidepools, or rocky intertidal areas to rest away from the crashing surf.

Excerpt: Although they are now protected by federal and state laws, current drivers of this decline are not certain; however, the most likely culprit is inadequate prey availability

DIVISION OF AQUATIC RESOURCES HAWAII : ENDANGERED MONK SEAL

DUSK

 

HAWAIIAN MONK SEALS ENDANGERED SPECIES

WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO SKIP SEAFOOD IF IT WOULD HELP BRING BACK ENDANGERED SPECIES ?

WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO SKIP SEAFOOD IF IT WOULD HELP BRING BACK ENDANGERED SPECIES ?

OVERFISHING, HABITAT DESTRUCTION, and FISHING CAPTURE (BYCATCHING) ENDANGER OCEAN FISH : WORLD WILDLIFE FUND

SLOW REPRODUCTION RATE IS ALSO AN ISSUE...  The list is longer than I thought! There are EIGHTY on the endangered list and many more on the threatened list... 

WORLD WILDLIFE FUND PDF FILE REPORT ON ENDANGERED SPECIES

Excerpt: Since 1970, global populations of marine species utilized by humans have halved, with some of the most important species experiencing even greater declines. There are over 400 known endangered marine species linked to human consumption of seafood. With mindful sourcing, you can help protect them for the future. As the world’s largest conservation organization, WWF combines its scientific foundation and global reach to help ensure that our modern food systems meet the needs of people while also respecting nature. Working with the seafood industry for more than 20 years, WWF has helped companies transition seafood supply chains to more sustainable, responsible and traceable operations. Company commitments to sustainability would not be comprehensive without the inclusion of protective measures for our planet’s most threatened species.

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SIREN HERE!  I BARELY EAT ANY SEAFOOD AS IS, BUT NOW I WANT TO AVOID EATING IT AT ALL.  LET THE WHALES HAVE A MEAL! 

DEVILS HOLE PUPFISH ENDANGERED DUE TO HABITAT DAMAGED BY QUAKES

US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICES : PUPFISH

Excerpt: The Devils Hole pupfish lives in a deep limestone cave in Nevada. This entire population of pupfish feeds and breeds on a shallow shelf only 215 square feet (20 square meters) along one side of Devils Hole. Devils Hole pupfish feed primarily on algae that grows on the limestone shelf and small invertebrates.


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THAT'S RIGHT - THE ENTIRE PUPFISH POPULATION DEPENDS ON A TINY ECOSYSTEM.
I READ FAIRLY RECENT ARTICLES THAT SAID THAT THIS FISH HAD MADE A COMEBACK BUT THE NEW IS BAD:


DAILY MAIL UK : PUPFISH DECLINE TO ONLY TWENTY FISH

Excerpt: The tiny silvery-blue pupfish rely on a shallow shelf at the cave's mouth for their food and spawning, according to the National Park Service (NPS).

But the generally calm and sheltered home for the tiny fish has been prone to water surges caused by earthquakes that displace the algae and invertebrates that pupfish eat, KVVU reported.

Kevin Wilson, Death Valley National Park's Supervisory Biologist and Devil's Hole Program Manager, told the outlet that the back-to-back disruptions to the ecosystem have depleted the Devil's Hole pupfish population by 90 percent.

Through 24/7 monitoring, national park officials are striving to protect and restore the suffering population.

MINKE WHALE DIES : SANDBAR : BOATS : STARVATION? : WHALE STRANDINGS DRAMATIC INCREASE

It appears that a Minke whale may have been starving, come close to shore, got stranded on a sandbar, and in it's struggle to get free, hit into a boat, throwing a boat occupant.. Here's the coverage by Newsweek.

NEWSWEEK : MINKE WHALES DIES AFTER BOAT COLLISION


Excerpt: However, vessel strikes, entanglement, and habitat disturbances remain significant threats to whales along the eastern seaboard.

U.S. maritime law, specifically the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, prohibits the harassment, hunting, capturing, or killing of marine mammals. The law includes specific rules for recreational and commercial vessels, requiring operators to avoid approaching whales within 100 yards and to reduce speed in certain areas to minimize the risk of collisions.


CBS NEWS: MINKE WHALE DEATH EXAMINATION RESULTS


Excerpts: The whale was 26 feet, 4 inches long and confirmed to be an adult female. The MMSC said the whale's body condition was thin. It also had "superficial cuts" externally and "bruising present in the blubber and muscle in the areas of trauma on the dorsal side." Blood was also present in the whale's lungs, according to the MMSC. .... "GI tract was empty with very little digestive material present, and a scant amount of fecal matter," the MMSC wrote. "Lesions were present in the stomach."

OCEANA : PROTECT ENDANGERED SPECIES WITH LEGAL ACTION : 10% OF GLOBAL FISH CATCH IS DISCARDED

OCEANA CAMPAIGNS : SAVE ENDANGERED SPECIES 

EXCERPT: Did you know that one of the most impactful ways to protect endangered ocean species is to prevent them from being unintentionally caught up in fishing gear?

About 10% of the world’s global fish catch is discarded. And each year, fishing gear kills or injures millions of non-targeted animals as bycatch, including sharks, whales, dolphins, fish, and sea turtles, some of which are vulnerable or endangered ocean species.

In recent years, Oceana has helped to ban the deadly shark fin trade in the United States and Canada. Oceana is continuing to work to reduce bycatch and protect important species like the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale from destructive fishing practices and other human caused threats.

Oceana and our allies have won more than 75 victories to protect threatened and endangered ocean species, including sharks, sea turtles, and whales.Did you know that one of the most impactful ways to protect endangered ocean species is to prevent them from being unintentionally caught up in fishing gear?

About 10% of the world’s global fish catch is discarded. And each year, fishing gear kills or injures millions of non-targeted animals as bycatch, including sharks, whales, dolphins, fish, and sea turtles, some of which are vulnerable or endangered ocean species.

In recent years, Oceana has helped to ban the deadly shark fin trade in the United States and Canada. Oceana is continuing to work to reduce bycatch and protect important species like the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale from destructive fishing practices and other human caused threats.

Oceana and our allies have won more than 75 victories to protect threatened and endangered ocean species, including sharks, sea turtles, and whales.

OCEANOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE : SO MANY INTERESTING ARTICLES!

OCEANOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE : BROWSE ARTICLES

Here's a sampling of current titles!

France's 'lacklustre' bottom trawling plans "a missed opportunity"

UK government claims "overdue bottom trawling ban" will benefit all

Offshore oil and gas is threatening marine life "at every step"

Samoa protects 30% of its ocean with new marine spatial plan

Hot limpets: Humble shellfish harbour climate change secret

Siren here:  TODAY DO ONE THING THAT WILL HELP PRESERVE OUR OCEANS AND THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS THAT LIVE IN THEM!

ROBERT E. FULLER COMBINES ACTIVISM WITH ART : HUMPBACK WHALES IN ALASKAN WATERS

A few months ago I started watching Robert. E. Fullers YouTube channel.  What an amazing person! This short video on humpback whales is just one of his very many.  If you follow his channel you'll learn how to help birds survive by building safe nesting spots for them, and so much more.  Robert is also fine artist who sells his work.

HILTON HEAD BEACHED SPERM WHALE : WHALE HELP

ISLAND PACKET :HILTON HEAD BEACHED SPERM WHALE

Excerpt: Like the beached whale on Hilton Head Island, live whales usually only beached themselves if they’re sick, injured, or in otherwise poor health. One common cause of sickness is when the whale ingests marine debris, especially plastic. Whales can get entangled in fishing gear or get struck by boats. Sperm whales are an endangered species, and about four of them strand themselves on beaches across the Atlantic coast per year. George said there has been some increase in the number of whales washing up over the years, but it’s not known whether that’s due to an increase in sperm whale populations or an increase to the threats they face. Lentz said the average person can help endangered whales by making conscientious choices about the food they eat and the products the buy, and picking up their garbage on the beach.

If you see a stranded or injured marine animal, do not push it back into the ocean, as biologists say it will likely wash up again somewhere else. Instead, call (877) WHALE-HELP to report the animal to the National Marine Fisheries Service.

INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR THE CONSERVATION OF NATURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES MEETING 2025 DUBAI

IUCN ORG

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. By harnessing the experience, resources and reach of its more than 1,400 Member organisations and the input of some 17,000 experts, IUCN is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it.

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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9-15 October, 2025
Description


The IUCN World Conservation Congress is a once-every-four-years, diverse gathering of nature conservation experts, leaders and decision-makers from around the world. It will help shape global priorities for nature conservation and climate change for the coming decade and beyond.