Pacific smelt, a small, popular recreational and food fish, could be listed as a threatened or endangered species by the end of next year.

Declining populations led the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to announce Wednesday it plans to study whether smelt, also known as eulachon or candlefish, should be protected.

The Cowlitz Indian Tribe, based in Longview, formally asked federal officials to consider the listing. The tribe backed up its request with genetic studies, which prompted the government to accept the tribe's petition for protection, NOAA marine biologist Scott Rumsey said.

Smelt are common in the waters of Snohomish County, but declining runs on the Cowlitz and Columbia rivers make it necessary to study the species' health in its entire range, officials said.

Kit Rawson, senior fishery management biologist for the Tulalip Tribes, said the tribal fisherman... Continued@URL...
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