Massive Ohio fish from 'age of dinosaurs' among animals bill could save |Opinion

Matt Misicka is the executive director of the Ohio Conservation Federation. Collin O’Mara is the president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation.

From northern bobwhite quail to monarch butterflies, Ohio is home to some of our nation’s most cherished wildlife.

But right now, more than 450 species across the state are at heightened risk of extinction and need our help, as they face threats from habitat loss and fragmentation, and invasive species. It’s part of a larger national trend where more than one-third of America’s wildlife are edging toward extinction.

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Fortunately, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to help save Ohio’s incredibly rich biodiversity through a bipartisan bill in Congress called the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act.

The bill is designed to fund proactive, collaborative, and locally led efforts to help recover at-risk fish, wildlife, and plant species. Ohio will receive more than $20.6 million annually. It’s a solution that matches the magnitude of the wildlife crisis.

The Recovering American’s Wildlife Act has incredible bipartisan momentum.

The House passed the bill in the June, on a bipartisan basis. The bill has 35 cosponsors in the Senate, including 16 Republicans, including Sen. Rob Portman. Ohio’s wildlife needs the full support of our Congressional delegation to get this across the finish line.

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Here’s why the bill makes sense for Ohio: We can build upon the locally-driven and collaborative successes that have been the hallmark of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. For decades, the agency has done innovative work with the fees and taxes paid by hunters and anglers to restore game and fish species, like white-tailed deer and mourning doves.

But right now, there isn’t the same type of funding to help at-risk species like lake sturgeon.

Lake sturgeon can grow up to 6 feet long and weigh up to 200 pounds, and dates back to the time of the dinosaurs. Due to historic overharvest and habitat degradation, this ancient fish is currently one of the most threatened species in the Great Lakes and is listed as endangered in Ohio.

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The release of young lake sturgeon in 2019 marked the second year of repatriation as part of a long-term effort to restore a healthy spawning population in the Maumee River.

Agencies involved in the species restoration include the Ohio Division of Wildlife, the Toledo Zoo and Aquarium, U.S. Geological Survey, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will provide much-needed funding for continuing lake sturgeon restoration and help ensure this fish remains in Ohio’s waters.

That’s where the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act comes in. It prioritizes proactive, local collaboration and innovation to save the full diversity of wildlife, rather than waiting until species decline until the point where primarily federal regulation is needed. It’s the ultimate ounce of prevention.

The $20.6 million annually for Ohio would unleash a new era of conservation for brook trout, barn owls, cerulean warblers, Blanding’s turtles, and dozens of other species.

This collaborative, non-regulatory, locally-driven approach of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act matches the common-sense conservatism of Sen. Rob Portman, which is why we’re thankful that he was one of the first co-sponsors on the bill. We’re hopeful that each member of the Ohio delegation will support the bill for swift passage in the Senate.

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After all, what would Ohio be without its wildlife? Outdoor recreation that’s largely dependent upon healthy wildlife populations contributes more than $10.6 billion annually to Ohio’s economy. The state has awe-inspiring public lands and waterways, but it’s majestic wildlife that truly brings them to life.

Inaction is the ally of extinction. We urge Ohio’s leaders to seize this incredible opportunity to save wildlife through collaboration by helping pass the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act.

Matt Misicka is the executive director of the Ohio Conservation Federation. Collin O’Mara is the president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation.