Comment from Paulukonis, Elizabeth
Elizabeth PaulukonisSupportIndividual
Summary: An ecologist and marine nature enthusiast supports listing all six subpopulations of the Tope Shark under the Endangered Species Act. They argue that protecting all populations is essential for maintaining diverse gene pools and ensuring the long-term reproductive success and survival of the species.
I strongly support the listing of ALL 6 subpopulations of the Tope Shark under the ESA. As an ecologist and marine nature lover, it would be severely detrimental to the longevity of this species to NOT include the additional 4 subpopulations. Diverse gene pools are critical for long term survival of any species, and the decision to not protect all populations could jeopardize the ability of this species to effectively reproduce. The Tope Shark deserves the chance to grow its numbers so it can eventually be delisted once the science supports it, but multiple scientific bodies have urged against not listing all subpopulations.