Action timeline

November 21, 1991 – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service classified the Montana Arctic grayling as a candidate for Endangered Species Act listing, giving it no federal protections.

2002 – The Center sued the Service to force a decision about the grayling’s listing.

April 24, 2007 – Despite the grayling’s dangerously low numbers in the United States, the Service decided not to list the species.

November 15, 2007 – The Center and allies filed a lawsuit to force the Service to reconsider its April listing denial.

September 30, 2009 – The Service agreed to make a new decision on protecting the grayling by August 31, 2010.

September 7, 2010 – In response to our 2007 lawsuit, the Service determined that the grayling warranted protection under the Endangered Species Act, but that such protection was precluded by listing of other species considered a higher priority. The fish was again simply made a candidate for protection.

July 12, 2011 – The Center reached a landmark agreement with the Fish and Wildlife Service compelling the agency to move forward in the protection process for 757 species, including the Montana Arctic grayling.