U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service | Southeast Region News Release

October 29, 2001

Contact:
Christine Eustis, 404/679-7287

WHO:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Panel:
Sam Hamilton, Southeast Regional Director, Atlanta, GA
Dave Hankla, Field Supervisor, Ecological Services Field Office, Jacksonville, FL
Linda Walker, Assistant Field Supervisor, Ecological Services Field Office, Jacksonville, FL
Moderator:
Christine Eustis, Assistant Regional Director, External Affairs, Atlanta, GA

WHAT:

Press Conference Call to Discuss Final Recovery Plan for the Florida Manatee.

WHEN:

Wednesday, October 31, 2001
First Call: 10 - 10:45 a.m.
Second Call: 11 - 11:45 a.m.

HOW:

To participate please R.S.V.P to Christine Eustis (404) 679-7287no later than Wednesday, October 31, 9:00 a.m.
We will limit each call to ten reporters. Sign up is on a first-come, first-serve basis. If a time fills up, you will have to opt for the other time. When you R.S.V.P, you will receive a call-in number and password.

WHY:

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will discuss and answer questions about its final Florida Manatee Recovery Plan, 3rd Revision. In this revision to the manatee recovery plan, the Service recognizes that significant progress has been made towards recovery and that the status of the species may warrant reclassification to threatened status, if recovery criteria are met and threats are reduced or removed. Additionally, great care has been taken in this revision to provide what the Service believes are "objective measurable criteria" which, when met, would result in a determination that the species be removed from the list. The Service carefully considered the recommendations of the Recovery Team and the public comments received on two previous drafts of the plan.

All questions related to other aspects of the manatee issue or other Service initiatives should be referred to the moderator, after this conference call by calling 404-679-7287.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 94-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System that encompasses more than 535 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 70 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.

Jacksonville Press Release

Recovery Plan, 3rd Revision, FAQs

Florida Manatee Recovery Plan Fact Sheet

NOTE: You can view our releases or subscribe to receive them -- via e-mail -- at the Service's Southeast Regional home page at http://southeast.fws.gov. Our national home page is at: http://news.fws.gov/newsreleases/.