The California Fish and Game Commission is considering our petition to change the state listing of the delta smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus) from threatened to endangered species status. The Center and other conservation groups submitted an emergency petition in February for endangered status under the California Endangered Species Act, due to catastrophic declines of the smelt population. This fish species is currently listed as threatened under the state law.

The small, nearly translucent delta smelt is endemic to the west coast's largest estuary, the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Once one of the most common and abundant fishes in the Delta, the smelt population has declined 90 percent in the past two decades.

These declines are due to increasing water diversions from the Delta and its tributary rivers for export, loss of habitat, increased competition and predation by introduced species, and impaired water quality from pesticides and other pollutants.

In recent years the delta smelt population has completely collapsed, and abundance levels the past three consecutive years have been the lowest on record. Delta smelt are on a rapid trajectory toward extinction and clearly need increased state and federal protection.

Please send a message to the Commission to immediately change the status of the delta smelt to endangered.