… A slew of early actions by the Trump administration has set about throwing open more land and waters for the fossil fuel industry, triggering the reversal of regulations that strengthen the Endangered Species Act, the country’s landmark 1973 conservation bill, including a rule that protects migratory birds from unintentional killing. … A lack of resources has stymied many listed species from a full recovery and opponents of the act claim that it has unduly blocked economic development. Trump recently railed against protections afforded to the delta smelt, a small, unassuming creature in California that the president called an “essentially worthless fish”.

Other endangered species news:

• The Oaklandside: Fighting the political currents, local groups sue the Trump administration to protect the white sturgeon
• Ventura County Star (Camarillo, Calif.): Opinion: This little fish (delta smelt) speaks volumes