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Narrator: NOAA Fisheries is responsible for managing
more than 165 marine species listed as threatened
or endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
These designations protect the animals
from harvest or harm from humans.
The ultimate goal is to help the species recover
to the point where they can be taken off
the endangered species list,
because their populations are healthy again.
There have been some success stories—
for example, the Eastern population of Steller sea lions
and the Eastern North Pacific gray whale
have recovered and were removed from the list.
But there are other species that are struggling.
Of all the species we protect,
we consider some to be among the most at risk
of extinction in the near future.
That’s why, in 2015, we created
the Species in the Spotlight initiative.
It’s a way for us to focus our time,
energy, and resources on these at-risk species
and bring greater attention to their plight.
Our goal is to focus our recovery actions
and motivate partners and community members
to work with us on these actions
to turn this situation around.
For each species, we have developed action plans
that outline short-term efforts to stop their decline
and prevent their extinction.
In the first five years of the
Species in the Spotlight initiative,
we have made real progress toward stabilizing
some populations, such as Hawaiian monk seals.
We launched the first ever effort to vaccinate
a wild population and have vaccinated
more than 700 monk seals.
We also partnered with local organizations
to rescue and rehabilitate more than 150 animals.
Our recent data shows that their population
appears to be slowly increasing.
Sometimes the only way to bring back a species
is through captive breeding.
We're doing this successfully with white abalone,
and just started planting thousands of young abalone
into their native habitat.
We also reintroduced approximately 560,000
winter-run Chinook salmon
to establish a new population
in Battle Creek in California.
We also focus on protecting the habitat and prey
that these species need to recover,
such as removing dams from rivers
that block Atlantic salmon
from reaching spawning grounds in Maine,
protecting Chinook salmon stocks
that Southern resident killer whales need for food,
and restoring more than 200 miles of streams
for Coho salmon.
An important part of our work is to educate
and engage people who live, work, and play
near these endangered animals.
Hundreds of people participate in our annual
Belugas Count! day, and our
Alaska Beluga Monitoring Partnership
helping scientists get more information
on Cook Inlet beluga whales,
and we have worked with community groups
to protect key leatherback sea turtle
nesting beaches around the Pacific,
from Costa Rica to Indonesia.
For North Atlantic right whales,
we are working with fishermen,
state agencies, vessel owners
and conservation groups to reduce the risks
of these whales getting tangled in fishing gear
and being hit by vessels,
the two biggest threats to their survival.
In its first five years,
the Species in the Spotlight initiative
has added around 90 new partners,
and leveraged more than 113 million dollars
toward stopping the decline of these species.
We are continuing to do research
and work with partners so that we can get these species
stabilized and on the path to recovery.
We’re working hard to save these at-risk species.
You can do your part, too!
If you see marine life in the water or on the beach,
keep a safe distance so that you don’t disturb it.
If you see a sick or injured marine animal,
report it to our trained responders.
Volunteer for stream and beach cleanups,
conserve water,
fish responsibly,
and learn about your local habitats and wildlife.
Each of these species is an important part
of the habitat,
the ecosystem,
and the world we all share.
Bringing them back will make our world richer
and more balanced.
Through the continued dedication
of NOAA and its partners,
we can all help these species recover.
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