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Reclassification of species delayed
©Associated Press
September 6, 2002
PENSACOLA BEACH -- The reclassification of protected species, such as the bald eagle and gopher tortoise, will wait a few more months, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has decided.
The commission voted to have a panel re-evaluate the existing plan for classifying species as endangered, threatened or of special concern during a meeting Wednesday in this barrier island community in the Florida Panhandle. The panel is to return with recommendations in March.
The commission also postponed decisions to remove the bald eagle from the list, add the bob white quail as a species of special concern and move up the gopher tortoise one classification to a threatened species.
"We've got a very good process right now, one that is looked at by a lot of states as examples of how to handle the listings and delistings," said Commissioner John Rood. "We think this is the right time to bring the various groups together and see if there is a consensus that can be developed for ways to improve the process."
Laurie Macdonald, Florida director of the Defenders of Wildlife, was pleased with the decision to review the process, saying current rules make it difficult for certain animals to be protected. She said the rules rely heavily on numerical data and as a result push some species too close to extinction before they are listed.
The commission drew criticism in January when it lowered the red-cockaded woodpecker from threatened to a species of special concern. Meanwhile, the white marlin won't be included on the endangered species list even though "the species has declined greatly from historic levels," the National Marine Fisheries Service said.
The agency said international measures adopted in 2000 may stabilize the white marlin population.
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