FYI regarding USFWS measures to list 201 salamander
species as injurious wildlife due to their ability to carry the fungus
Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans also known as salamander chytrid.
_____________________________________________________
Tammy Davis / Invasive Species Program Coordinator
ADF&G /P.O. Box 115526 / Juneau, AK 99811-5526
P: (907) 465-6183 / C: (907) 209-2492
Be part of the solution… Report Invasive Species:
1-877-INVASIV
From: Goldberg, Jason <jason_goldberg@fws.gov<mailto:jason_goldberg@fws.gov>>
Date: Tue, Jan 12, 2016 at 10:01 AM
Subject: Salamander Injurious Wildlife Listing Notice
To:
Dear Colleague,
I am writing to inform you of an important action by the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) to help prevent a deadly fungus from
killing native salamanders. The Service
is publishing an interim rule in the Federal Register tomorrow to list 201
salamander species as injurious wildlife under the Lacey Act. The fungus
Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans, also known as Bsal or salamander chytrid, is
carried on the skin of various salamander species. Bsal has caused major
die-offs of salamanders in Europe and poses an imminent threat to U.S. native
salamander populations. The fungus is not yet known to be found in the United
States, and to help ensure it remains that way, the Service is publishing an
interim rule that will take effect on January 28, 2016. At that time, the
importation and interstate transportation of the listed species will be
prohibited. The rule also opens a 60-day public comment period (please see the
rule in the Federal Register for instructions on how to submit a public
comment).
A pre-publication version of the interim rule is
available today for public inspection at https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2016/01/13/2016-00452/injurious-wildlife-species-listing-salamanders-due-to-risk-of-salamander-chytrid-fungus. Additional information including the news
release, interim rule, draft economic analysis and regulatory flexibility
analysis, and other materials are also available at http://www.fws.gov/injuriouswildlife/salamanders.html. We will link to the Federal Register website
tomorrow once the interim rule is officially published.
Thank you for your time and concern in helping to prevent
Bsal from impacting salamanders and the ecosystems they support in our
nation. Please let me know if you have
any questions.
Regards,
Jason Goldberg
--
Jason Goldberg
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Branch of Aquatic Invasive Species
Ph: 703-358-1866
Cell: 240-687-8213
