Endangered Species Law & Policy

On May 23, 2012, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed the Morelet's crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii) from the list of federal endangered and threatened species.  The species was first listed as endangered in June, 1970.  The listing was due primarily to over-harvesting for commercial purposes.  Shortly thereafter, restrictions on the commercial harvest and trade of the species were instituted.  In 2005, after a survey had established the widespread distribution and relative abundance of the species, the Government of Mexico filed a petition seeking to delist the crocodile. Although the Service published a 90-day finding concluding that delisting may be warranted in 2006, it was not until 2011 that the Service issued a rule proposing to delist the species.  After receiving only five comments, in 2012 the Service published a final rule delisting the species.  In the final rule, the Service stated that delisting was warranted in light of the substantial population increase due to the elimination or significant reduction of threats to the species resulting from the restrictions on commercial harvest and trade.