3.5 Freshwater Fish
Anadromous and catadromous fsh species migrate between inland freshwaters and coastal brackish and salt waters during their life cycles. Many native migratory fsh popula- tions have sharply declined over the last several decades. A recent assessment of southeast- ern Atlantic coast diadromous fsh stocks (Burke and Rohde 2015) provides information about numerous species for which there are population concerns, including the federally listed Atlantic Sturgeon and Shortnose Sturgeon. As noted in the report, American Eel and two river herring species that are found in North Carolina rivers and coastal waters have been petitioned for listing as endangered species (USFWS 2011b; NMFS 2011; Burke and Rohde 2015) . Degraded freshwater and estuarine habitats that serve as nursery and spawning grounds and the vulnerability of anadromous fshes to exploitation during migration into coastal rivers contribute to a large number of diadromous species being included on lists of marine endangered and threatened fshes (Burke and Rohde 2015) . Principle causes of population declines have traditionally been attributed to dammed rivers, habitat loss, overfshing, and pollution but other contributing factors include climate change, nonnative species, and aquaculture (NMFS 2012; Burke and Rohde 2015) .
Additional information on rare and listed freshwater fshes relevant to the river basin systems where they are found is provided in Chapter 4.
3.5.4 Knowledge Gaps Tere are 67 species identifed as research priorities because there are knowledge
Cape Fear Shiner (NCWRC)
gaps, of which 29 are also considered SGCN (see Table 3.13). Table 3.15 represents only those species considered a knowledge-gap priority. It should be noted that fsh in the order Cypriniformes (suckers and minnows) make up more than half of the list. 3.5.5 Management Needs Multiple collaborations and partnerships have formed to design and implement conser- vation activities that beneft migratory fsh species as well as other native aquatic species (CFRP 2013) . For example, in 2013, a rock arch fsh passage ramp was built at Cape Fear River Lock & Dam No. 1, located 32 miles upstream from Wilmington. Te structure improves passage for several species. Although construction of the rock arch ramp is complete, USACE’s Lock and Dams No. 2 and No. 3 remain and continue to block spawning runs to the Smiley Falls area near Erwin in the middle of the Cape Fear River Basin. Access to the Deep River and historic spawning habitats in the upper Cape Fear River basin is currently
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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