Report on the Petition to List Cusk (Brosme brosme) Under the Endangered Species Act

Executive Summary

A formal petition has been submitted to the National Marine Fisheries Service by the Center for Biological Diversity, advocating for the inclusion of the cusk fish (Brosme brosme) under the protective measures of the Endangered Species Act. The petition highlights significant population declines attributed to anthropogenic pressures, including fishing practices and climate change. These threats directly challenge the objectives outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Threat Analysis and Alignment with SDG 14: Life Below Water

The cusk, a long-lived, bottom-dwelling fish in the North Atlantic, faces severe threats that have led to population declines estimated between 75% and 95% in key areas. These threats are in direct conflict with the targets of SDG 14.

• Bycatch in Commercial Fisheries: Cusk are frequently caught as bycatch in groundfish fisheries. This practice undermines SDG Target 14.4, which calls for an end to overfishing and the reduction of bycatch to restore fish stocks.
• Habitat Degradation: The species relies on complex seafloor habitats, including rocks, ledges, and coral reefs at depths of 500 to 1,500 feet. The use of bottom-contact fishing gear damages this essential habitat, contravening SDG Target 14.2, which aims to sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems.
• Need for Scientific Assessment: The secluded nature of the cusk’s habitat presents challenges for comprehensive study. Increased protection and research align with SDG Target 14.a, which focuses on increasing scientific knowledge and research capacity for ocean health.

Climate Change Impact and Relevance to SDG 13: Climate Action

The viability of the cusk population is further compromised by environmental changes linked to global warming, a core concern of SDG 13.

1. Ocean Warming: The Gulf of Maine, a primary habitat for cusk, is warming faster than 99% of the world’s oceans. This rapid temperature increase is projected to shrink the cusk’s habitable range.
2. Ecosystem Resilience: Protecting vulnerable species like the cusk is integral to maintaining marine biodiversity and strengthening ecosystem resilience against climate-related hazards, a key component of SDG Target 13.1.

Biological Factors Complicating Species Recovery

The cusk’s life history characteristics make its population particularly vulnerable and slow to recover from external pressures.

• Delayed Maturity: Females reach sexual maturity late, at approximately 5 to 10 years of age.
• Long Lifespan: The species can live up to 39 years, meaning population turnover is slow.
• Sedentary Nature: Cusk are solitary and do not migrate extensively, which limits their ability to repopulate depleted areas.

These biological traits, combined with the aforementioned threats, create a critical need for intervention to prevent further decline and work towards the sustainable management of marine life as mandated by the SDGs.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 14: Life Below Water

• The article focuses on the cusk, a marine fish, and the threats it faces in its North Atlantic Ocean habitat. This directly aligns with SDG 14, which aims to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources. The core issues discussed—overfishing (bycatch), habitat destruction from fishing gear, and the need to protect a marine species—are central to this goal.

SDG 15: Life on Land

• While its title is “Life on Land,” SDG 15 also encompasses the protection of biodiversity in all ecosystems. The petition to protect the cusk fish under the Endangered Species Act is an action to halt biodiversity loss and prevent the extinction of a threatened species, which is a key component of this goal.

SDG 13: Climate Action

• The article explicitly mentions that climate change is a threat to the cusk. It states that warming water temperatures are shrinking the fish’s habitat and that “The Gulf of Maine is warming faster than 99% of the world’s oceans.” This connects the specific issue of the cusk’s survival to the broader global challenge of climate change and its impact on ecosystems, which is the focus of SDG 13.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 14: Life Below Water

1. Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts.
   • The article highlights the need to protect the cusk’s habitat, which includes “seafloor areas at depths of 500 to 1,500 feet with features such as rocks, ledges and coral reefs.” It also notes that fishing gear damages this habitat, directly relating to the need for protection and sustainable management of this marine ecosystem.
2. Target 14.4: By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices.
   • The article identifies a primary threat as the cusk being “accidentally caught in fishing nets aimed at other species,” a form of overfishing known as bycatch. The petition to list the cusk as endangered is a step towards regulating harvesting to stop the “nosedive” in its population.

SDG 15: Life on Land

1. Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.
   • The entire article is centered on this target. The petition to the National Marine Fisheries Service is an “urgent action” to “protect” a “threatened species” (the cusk) and “prevent [its] extinction” due to “habitat degradation” and other pressures.

SDG 13: Climate Action

1. Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
   • The article points to a specific climate-related hazard: “Climate change is also warming water temperatures in cusk habitat, which scientists believe will shrink their range.” Protecting the species and its ecosystem is a measure to strengthen the resilience of this marine environment against the impacts of climate change.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Indicators for SDG 14 (Targets 14.2 and 14.4)

• Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels (Indicator 14.4.1): The article provides a direct, though negative, measure for this indicator. It states that “the cusk’s population has declined by 75%-95% in several areas over the past few decades.” This data point shows that the cusk stock is currently outside biologically sustainable levels. Progress would be measured by a reversal of this decline.
• Damage to habitat: The article implies an indicator by mentioning that “fishing gear that touches the ocean floor can damage their habitat.” Measuring the extent of seafloor damage from fishing gear in the cusk’s habitat would be an indicator of progress towards protecting the ecosystem (Target 14.2).

Indicator for SDG 15 (Target 15.5)

• Red List Index (Indicator 15.5.1): While not named, the concept is central to the article. The petition to list the cusk under the Endangered Species Act is a formal process to assess its conservation status. The population decline of 75%-95% is the key data point that would inform the cusk’s status on a threatened species list, which is what the Red List Index tracks. An improvement in the cusk’s population and status would be a positive change in this indicator.

Indicator for SDG 13 (Target 13.1)

• Rate of ocean warming: The article provides a specific data point that serves as an indicator of a climate-related hazard: “The Gulf of Maine is warming faster than 99% of the world’s oceans.” This is a measurable indicator of the climate pressure on the cusk’s ecosystem. Tracking this rate of warming is essential for understanding the threat level.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: biologicaldiversity.org