Red Knot Management and Policy
Because of the overwhelming scientific data regarding the decline of the red knot, Defenders’ goal is to see this species listed under the Endangered Species Act.
A listing is critical to implementing and coordinating a number of recovery actions that must be undertaken by the states and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in order to prevent extinction.
In 2005, Defenders and our partners filed a petition to the USFWS to list the red knot as an endangered species. To date, the USFWS has declined to list the bird. In response, Defenders is suing the Service over their decision.
More recently, in February of 2008, Defenders and other conservation groups
submitted a new petition to the Department of Interior based on new
scientific findings confirming the knot's continued dramatic decline.
Read our press release and the new report. Three U.S.
Senators also have asked Department of Interior Secretary Kempthorne
to list the knot. Read their letter.
Update 5/1/2008: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service responds to our petition and declines once again to list the red knot.
Defenders has also worked for the past decade with our partners to monitor the harvest of horseshoe crabs. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Council is the body that establishes the regulations regarding that fishery. Conservation groups have most recently pushed that body to adopt conservation measures but because of their interest in preserving fishing opportunities they have been reluctant to do so.
Timeline of actions relating to the red knot and horseshoe crab
New Jersey Update
Thanks in large part to Defenders of Wildlife's New Jersey activists, on March 25, 2008, Governor Corzine signed into law a bill implementing a moratorium on the state's horseshoe crab fishery in order to protect this critical food resource for red knots and other migratory shorebirds! Read the Governor's press release.
Defenders of Wildlife encourages other states and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to follow New Jersey’s example and put in place the strongest conservation measures possible.
New Jersey Residents: Please thank your legislators and the Governor.|
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