A formal review process led by Fish and Wildlife’s Endangered and Nongame Species Program was conducted in 2014 and 2015 to determine the status of our native freshwater fishes.  The procedure is known as the Delphi Technique.  It is a systematic method for reaching consensus among experts in which absolute, quantitative answers are either unknown or unattainable.  It is an iterative process characterized by anonymity among the participating experts, controlled feedback via the principal investigator, and a statistical estimator of group opinion.  By structuring the group communication process, the Delphi Technique helps the group reach a consensus of opinion by incorporating all available data and disseminating those data among all participants.  To assist the Delphi efforts, the NJFW created species distribution maps using GIS, based on data collected from 2000 through 2012.  In addition to data collected by the Bureau of Freshwater Fisheries Research and Management Unit, data were supplied by the Department’s Bureau of Freshwater and Biological Monitoring, the Pinelands Commission, and United States Geological Survey.  Results informed the update of the New Jersey’s State Wildlife Action Plan.

Fifty-three species were reviewed and consensus was reached on 48:

• 2 species were ranked Endangered
• 1 species was ranked Threatened
• 5 species were ranked Special Concern
• 36 species were ranked Secure/Stable
• 4 were ranked Not Applicable because they either no longer occur in NJ or are considered non-native
• 5 species remained unresolved after four rounds

For the full report, click here.

The following recommendations were made by the Committee for adoption of the statuses reached by consensus of the Delphi Panel, as well as the status for five species in which no consensus was satisfied during the Delphi review:

Endangered (Candidate):

  Bridle Shiner                           Ironcolor Shiner

Threatened (Candidate):

  Slimy Sculpin

Special Concern (Candidate):

American Brook Lamprey	Comely Shiner	Northern Hog Sucker
Blackbanded Sunfish	Mud Sunfish	Shield Darter
Brook Trout

Secure/Stable:

American Eel	Eastern Silvery Minnow	Sea Lamprey
Banded Killifish	Fallfish	Spotfin Shiner
Banded Sunfish	Golden Shiner	Spottail Shiner
Blacknose Dace	Longnose Dace	Swallowtail Shiner
Bluespotted Sunfish	Margined Madtom	Swamp Darter
Brown Bullhead	Mummichog	Tadpole Madtom
Chain Pickerel	Pirate Perch	Tessellated Darter
Common Shiner	Pumpkinseed	White Catfish
Creek Chub	Quillback	White Perch
Creek Chubsucker	Redbreast Sunfish	White Sucker
Cutlip Minnow	Redfin Pickerel	Yellow Bullhead
Eastern Mudminnow	Satinfin Shiner	Yellow Perch

Uncertain/Unknown Status:

  Eastern Mosquitofish

Not Applicable (Non-Native):

Black Bullhead

Bluntnose Minnow

Bowfin Longnose Gar

Pearl Dace