Tidewater Goby

April 30, 2004 - Tidewater Goby

The little tiny fish in our picture is none other than edhat.com’s Endangered Species of the Month, the Tidewater Goby (or Eucylogobius newberryi, as their mom’s call them). The tidewater goby is a small grayish brown colored fish characterized by large pectoral fins and a ventral sucker-like disk formed by the complete fusion of the pelvic fins. They rarely exceed 2 inches in length. They eat small invertebrates, zooplankton and phytoplankton, depending on their size.

The tidewater goby is found in California’s coastal wetlands; lagoons, estuaries, and marshes, and is almost unique among fishes along the Pacific coast because it can only live in waters with low salinities. All life stages of tidewater gobies are found at the upper end of lagoons in salinities less than 10 parts per thousand. They live in groups ranging in population from a few fish to several hundred individuals, and are mostly found in shallow water less than three feet deep.

Here’s an interesting story. The tidewater goby was listed as an endangered species in 1994 at the end of an extended drought cycle. Why is this interesting? You’ll find out in a minute. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFW) placed them on the Endangered Species list in 1994, noting that since the year 1900, the tidewater goby had disappeared from nearly 50 percent of the coastal lagoons within its historic range. Coastal development and loss of suitable habitat were named as the primary factor in the decline of the population. Unfortunately, loss of habitat is probably the most common reason cited in cases of species endangerment.

Okay, here’s the interesting part. By 1999, rainfall levels had returned to normal and, lo and behold, populations of tidewater gobies were found in some of the areas where they were originally believed to have been missing! Yeah! Seems they were just laying low. And so, given this information, in 1999 the USFW proposed “de-listing” the tidewater goby because: 1) there were more populations in the northern portion of the range than at that time the species was listed; 2) the threats to those populations were not as severe as once believed, and: 3) the agency believed the tidewater goby had a greater ability to re-colonize areas than was known when the species was listed.

However...

The USFW received many comments, including those by goby experts and peer reviewers, which raised legitimate questions regarding the proposed de-listing. It was also suggested that a recovery plan for the species had never been prepared by the agency. Recovery plans are blueprints for actions by federal and state agencies and private organizations to conserve species. In addition to those comments, they received comments from many concerned Californians who had conscientiously decided to take on the plight of the cute little fish, and supported their continued protection.

The USFWS was persuaded by many of these comments and withdrew their proposal to de-list. They have now begun to develop a Recovery Plan for the goby that will guide conservation activities for the species and recommend specific criteria for considering the future de-listing of the tidewater goby. The end.

Some of our subscribers suggested that the fish in the photo was a grunion, a tadpole, a snail darter, and an endangered trout. A couple of our readers merely gave the fish a name – ‘Fishy’? But, there were 5 Edhatians who didn’t let the fish get away. TJ, SBkah, Careered Lady, Kevin M, and JButtress each correctly identified the little critter. A random drawing chose JButtress as the winner of the movie tickets. HOWEVER, if any of the other four winners come by our office at 2027 De La Vina between 9:30 and noon today (one day only), we will give them a free edhat T-shirt.

Other Endangered Species of the Month: