Anchorage Fish & Wildlife Field Office
Endangered Species

Our Endangered Species biologists conduct candidate assessment, listing, consultation, and recovery activities under the federal Endangered Species Act(ESA). In our candidate assessment activities, we determine which species may warrant listing under the ESA. Listing is a formal rule-making process whereby we determine, with public input, whether a species should be added to the official threatened and endangered species list. Our recovery activities are intended to help threatened and endangered species increase in abundance to the point where they can be removed from the endangered species list. Through our consultations, we work with Federal agencies and their project partners to minimize adverse effects of their actions on listed species and their critical habitat.

In Alaska, there are currently: one endangered bird species (short-tailed albatross), two threatened bird species (spectacled eider, Alaska breeding population of Steller’s eider), one endangered plant (Aleutian shield-fern), and one candidate mammal species (Southwestern Alaska population of Northern sea otter). The National Marine Fisheries Service is responsible for management of a number of marine mammals, fish, and sea turtles listed under the ESA (see their protected species list) and works extensively with the Service in the protection of seabirds. The Anchorage Fish and Wildlife Field Office is responsible for developing the Short-tailed Albatross Recovery Plan, as well as assisting in numerous ways with the recovery of Steller’s eiders, spectacled eiders, and the Aleutian shield-fern. An exciting success for us was the recent recovery and subsequent de-listing of the Aleutian Canada goose.

• Federal, state, and local governments acting on behalf of the public to develop projects like harbors, airports, roads, energy projects, and economic activities like fisheries and fish-processing plants.
• Private sponsors of federally-funded, -licensed, and -permitted projects such as those above.
• Industries whose activities might affect listed species.
• Individuals seeking information about species listed under the Endangered Species Act, or other rare plants or animals.

• Lead and coordinate the cooperative government/non-government teams that develop and implement Recovery Plans for federally-listed threatened or endangered species.
• Consult with project sponsors to ensure that federally-funded, -licensed, and -permitted projects are developed in such a way that they have minimal adverse effects on listed species and their critical habitat.
• Lead candidate conservation and listing activities to ensure that declining fish, wildlife, plant, and habitat resources are identified and helped as soon as possible.

For more information on Threatened and Endangered Species, please see the Alaska Region Endangered Species page, or contact our Endangered Species branch chief, Greg Balogh, at Greg_Balogh@fws.gov or by phone at 907-271-2778.

Last updated: July 31, 2008