Sport fish are crowding out native species, conservation groups argue

Sport fish are crowding out native species, conservation groups argue, describing a long-running US practice in Arizona waterways that they say has harmed local biodiversity. The Center for Biological Diversity argues that stocking non-native sport fish for recreational angling has devastated native wildlife, claiming 85% of Arizona’s native fish are in decline and that two-thirds of species are threatened or at the brink of extinction. The group plans to sue the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Arizona Game and Fish Department, alleging problematic management of the fish-stocking program tied to Grand Canyon State waters. It said the agencies have 60 days to respond to its notice before the case proceeds in court. The article explains that the model was encouraged after the 1950 Sports Fish Restoration Act, supported by federal tax revenue, which has delivered $260 million to Arizona and more than $12 billion nationwide. The suit centers on competition, predation, habitat effects, and disease risks to native species amid drought, dams, and diversions.