Montana Species of Special Concern

The Montana Chapter of the American Fisheries Society (MCAFS) Species of Special Concern Committee (SSCC) maintains a list of Montana fish species of special concern.  Prior to 2005, species status was assigned by the MCAFS using the A, B, C system of Holton (1980).  The status of fish species of special concern is now determined by the SSCC using a peer-review process; the SSCC uses the Montana Natural Heritage (Heritage) Program ranking system.  Following the peer-review process, MCAFS species ranks are recommended to the Montana Animal Species of Concern Committee (MASC), which includes staff of MTNHP and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP), representatives of the Montana Chapter of the Wildlife Society and the MCAFS, and other biologists with knowledge of specific taxa.  The MASC establishes species ranks used by Heritage and FWP.  The MCAFS list of species of special concern is a separate list from the Heritage/FWP list.   

There are 19 Species of Special Concern inhabiting their natural range in Montana waters.  Status reviews have been conducted for several of these species – click on the “Status Paper” link below each to learn more.

To date 18 species below are linked to status papers

Original Fish Art On Species of Special Concern Pages by: Joe Tomelleri