​How the Endangered Species Act Brought Wildlife Back to NY & NJ And Why It Needs Our Help

A bald eagle soaring, a whale breaching just off the beach, and seals sunning on sandbars are a thrilling and fairly common sight along the coast of New York and New Jersey.
 
If you've joined us for a Littoral Society walk on Sandy Hook or a Seastreak Seal and Bird Ecology cruise, you've likely seen these majestic creatures and more. During our Seastreak outings this year we were excited by the rare sight of a grey seal chilling like a boss on the rocks near the West Bank Lighthouse (they are far less common in these parts than their harbor seal cousins). We also got to witness a spectacular Gannet feeding frenzy, with hundreds of birds diving into the sea at speeds up to 70 mph to catch fish.
 
But not too long ago they were seldom seen in this area. As a result of pollution, pesticides, human development and hunting, those and other wildlife had virtually disappeared. In 1974, Osprey were listed as endangered in New Jersey, with only a few dozen nesting pairs remaining. In that same time frame, only one Bald Eagle nest could be found in the state. Whales and seals disappeared for nearly a century, returning around 2010.
 
That return wasn't just happenstance. These amazing animals are living testaments to the power of dedicated conservation; a success story in which the Endangered Species Act (ESA) played a pivotal role. Yet despite that evident success, the ESA is currently facing significant challenges.

A nesting pair of Osprey at Yellow Bar Marsh in Jamaica Bay, NY. (Photo by Don Riepe - American Littoral Society)

Passed in 1973, the ESA provides a critical framework for protecting and recovering imperiled species and the habitats they depend on, acting as a vital safety net against extinction. For decades, this landmark law has been instrumental in bringing iconic wildlife back from the brink, transforming our local ecosystems and enriching our lives.
 
The impact of the ESA on our region's wildlife has been profound. Consider the Bald Eagle: decimated by habitat loss and the widespread use of pesticides like DDT, this symbol of America was once a rare sight in our skies. ESA protections, coupled with the DDT ban and dedicated recovery programs including captive breeding and reintroduction efforts, have led to a remarkable comeback, with hundreds of nesting pairs flourishing across New Jersey and New York.
 
Similarly, the Osprey, another bird of prey severely impacted by pesticides, has seen a dramatic recovery, their nests now common sights on platforms along our bays and rivers. There are now nearly 1,000 nesting pairs in NJ and double that on Long Island, NY.

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Photo by Artie Raslich, Courtesy of Gotham Whale

Marine life has also benefited; while not all seal species were federally listed, the ESA's protection of their prey and habitats, along with cleaner waters resulting from other environmental laws, has supported the return and increasing presence of seals in our bays and along the coast.
 
We are also witnessing an increase in the sightings of various whale species (with fin and humpback whales being the most common) in the waters off our shores, indicating the slow but promising recovery of marine ecosystems and food sources on which they depend.

Given the evident benefits for those other species, efforts are also underway to win protections for horseshoe crabs and diamondback terrapins under the ESA. The Littoral Society has joined with the Center for Biological Diversity in petitioning the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to list both as threatened or endangered. 

Horseshoe crab populations in the Delaware Bay, which holds the largest single populace in the world, declined by nearly 90 percent between 1990 and 2005 due to overharvesting and habitat loss. Advocacy by the Littoral Society and  partners resulted in a 2008 ban on taking any horseshoe crabs from the bay, but even after nearly two decades of recovery numbers are still roughly half what they were in 1990.

Diamondback terrapin populations have decreased by similar amounts over the past 50 years, despite some state level efforts - including New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland - to protect them. Diamondback terrapins face numerous threats, including habitat loss, natural predators, and drowning in crab traps, as well as mortality from motor vehicles and boats.

Like horseshoe crabs, which are critical to the ecosystems of bays and estuaries, diamondback terrapins are a keystone species for salt marsh ecosystems, primarily due to their role in controlling populations of herbivorous invertebrates like periwinkle snails and fiddler crabs. 
 
Despite these undeniable successes and strong public support, the future of the Endangered Species Act is currently in question. The ESA is under constant pressure from various interests seeking to weaken its protections. Proposed legislative changes and administrative actions frequently emerge that could make it more difficult to list species, reduce the designation and protection of critical habitats essential for recovery, or place economic considerations above the best available science in decision-making.
 
In addition, challenges to regulations and the agencies that enforce them, potential loss of protected areas, threats from rising sea levels, as well as the renewed prospect of oil exploration off the Atlantic Coast, could signal a reversal on issues from pollution control to habitat conservation to sustainability of critical food sources.
 
These threats, if successful, could unravel the progress made over the past 50 years, slowing or even reversing the recovery of vulnerable species.
 
Ensuring the continued strength and effective implementation of the Endangered Species Act is crucial not just for the wildlife that depends on it, but for preserving the health and biodiversity of the very ecosystems that make the waters around New York and New Jersey so special for both wildlife and people.
 
The return of these magnificent creatures serves as a powerful reminder of what is at stake and why defending this vital law remains paramount. You can support the American Littoral Society’s efforts to protect wildlife, as well as the Endangered Species Act, by making a donation or becoming a member.

You can also send a message to public officials about the importance of the Endangered Species Act and you opposition any executive action or legislation to weaken it.

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