Special Status Species

Short-tailed albatross

When a population of fish or wildlife becomes too small, existence of that population can be put at risk by a catastrophic event or disease, or by not being able to find mates; the population then ceases to function properly and eventually goes extinct. In order to prevent this from occurring, the State of Alaska and the United States government maintain lists of vulnerable or sensitive species that offer additional protections through regulations and conservation measures. The lists help educate and inform people about vulnerable species, and help fish and wildlife managers prioritize their conservation funds and efforts.

State

The State of Alaska maintains lists of special status fish and wildlife species:

• Endangered
• Species of Special Concern
• Fish Stocks of Concern

Federal

The United States government is responsible for the determination and conservation of endangered and threatened fish, wildlife, and plants listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The following lists include species in Alaska listed under the ESA.

• Endangered
• Threatened
• Under Consideration for Protection Under the ESA

Extinct

Some species that used to spend part or all of their time in Alaska no longer exist anywhere in the world; they are now extinct.