Blog

The Saving America’s Vulnerable and Endangered Species Act (SAVES Act), cosponsored by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Rand Paul (R-KY) was introduced in the Senate and introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX-01).

The Act removes regulatory burdens for aquaculturists and conservators engaged in captive breeding of exotic wildlife while promoting animal conservation in the United States. The Act exempts from listing under the authority of the Endangered Species Act species not native to the United States. Sen. Cruz previously introduced this bill in 2018.

The National Aquaculture Association has unsuccessfully recommended to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service numerous times that farming nonnative, at-risk aquatic species in the United States can be a conservation benefit through the sharing of animal husbandry experience nationally and internationally or by providing eggs, fry or juvenile animals for rebuilding at-risk populations in other countries. Those recommendations have been repeatedly rejected concerning Pacific corals, tropical reef fish, sturgeon species, crocodilians, totoaba (Totoaba macdonaldi) and other foreign at-risk animals. Passage of the SAVES Act will make conservation aquaculture possible and allow the US to join other nations that engage in restoring at-risk species with commercial partners. A sensible approach that has been denied US farmers.

Read the full text of the Saving America’s Vulnerable and Endangered Species Act here.

Senate or House members that would like additional information, or to join as co-sponsors, can contact Bryan Bashur (Bryan_Bashur@cruz.senate.gov) or Brian Allen (Brian.Allen@mail.house.gov).