Razorback sucker upgraded from endangered to threatened after population surge

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service finalized a rule on July 16 that moves the razorback sucker from endangered to threatened status under the Endangered Species Act. The change follows a successful recovery effort that has lifted the Green River population to roughly 36,000 adult fish, up from about 100 in the late 1990s. The improvement results from coordinated actions by federal, state, tribal, private and nonprofit partners, including hatchery propagation, stocking, removal of invasive fish, habitat restoration, and flow management.

Alongside the status shift, the agency issued a Section 4(d) regulation allowing limited take for activities directly supporting the species’ recovery, such as handling, captive breeding, and educational displays. Despite the gains, the fish remains vulnerable to altered river regimes, drought, water-quality changes, and competition from non-native species, necessitating continued protection.