After a court ruling, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is moving forward with the next step to list the American eel, a fish common in Connecticut waters, as an endangered species.
The listing could have significant impact on Connecticut business, as it would give the federal government and environmental groups significant authority to protect the species. It could result in the removal of dams.
Fish and Wildlife will complete a 12-month finding on the eel by Sept. 30, 2015, which is the next step in the Endangered Species Act process. The decision to move forward came after an April ruling by the U.S. District Court for Washington, D.C. approved a settlement between Fish and Wildlife and the Center for Environmental Science, Accuracy, and Reliability.
While that process is underway, Fish and Wildlife is accepting information on the eel’s status for the endangered species review.
