Endangered Species Act
The Endangered Species Act was implemented in 1973 as a means of protecting the various animals, plants, and fish that were being destroyed due to a combination of human and environmental factors. Under the guidelines of the Endangered Species Act violators will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. These penalties include criminal charges, fines, and prison time. While the fines for such crimes are collected by the United States Treasury the money is give to help fund plans to help various endangered species.
It is strongly believed that various laws that have been enacted over the years have helped reduce the number of endangered species significantly. The most relevant of these laws are those that pertain to the areas of pollution and restricting the use of certain chemicals and pesticides.
To help control the number of animals and fish affected by legitimate fishing there are laws in place there as well. Most of them are enforced on a state level instead of at the Federal level. Hunting deer, elk, and even bears can help to control the issue of over population. However giving free rein to hunt them could lead to their extinction. To remedy this situation a set number of hunting licenses are allowed at any given time. Fishing licenses work in the same fashion.
The various plans implemented to increase the number of a given species are often difficult to get off the ground. It takes a great deal of time to compile the necessary data to get a species on the endangered species list. However the benefits of these programs can be seen in many different programs. The latest success story is that of the Bald Eagle. It was just recently removed from the endangered species list due to the increased number of them.
However as one species goes of the list there seems to be plenty more ready to go on. There is research in motion right now that indicates as least ten species of penguins may need to be added to the list very soon. They are at risk due to the decrease of food for food due to commercial fishing, predators, pollution, and changes to their climate. The programs are successful though because in the last 35 years only nine species that have been added to the list have not been able to be protected and saved in some form.
