Ali Gaster

Sabotaging conservation in the US: this time it’s the next generation of conservation scientists

October 9, 2026 Ali Gaster

Academic life, Conservation, Education, Policy, Science

Let’s be honest. Most of us working in conservation science got into it because we wanted to save something. We envisioned our research ultimately protecting a fragile ecosystem or an endangered species from the numerous threats thrown at them by humans. Looking at the current state of the United States, faced with climate impacts and … Read More “Sabotaging conservation in the US: this time it’s the next generation of conservation scientists” »

A continued assault on the Endangered Species Act – this time it’s the “Jobs Act”

October 8, 2026October 8, 2026 Ali Gaster

Conservation, Policy, Uncategorized

There are three ways to destroy an environmental law. You can repeal it outright (. You can withhold the funds needed to enforce it. Or (and this is the preferred method of the Trump Administration and the Republican Party) you can keep the law on the books but completely rewrite the machinery that makes it … Read More “A continued assault on the Endangered Species Act – this time it’s the “Jobs Act”” »

When is a take not a take? Yet another attack on Endangered Species by the Trump Administration

September 22, 2026September 19, 2026 Ali Gaster

Conservation, Policy, Science

“Felling a tree is not a take of the bats roosting in it unless the tree is felled for the purpose of killing or capturing them.” This is the example used by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Brian Nesvik in a September 14, 2026 memo directing Service personnel to adopt a radically narrower interpretation … Read More “When is a take not a take? Yet another attack on Endangered Species by the Trump Administration” »

The Trump Administration’s latest attack on endangered species

September 17, 2026 Ali Gaster

Conservation, News, Policy, Science

NOAA’s new seafood roadmap increases the threat to endangered whales There has long been a tension between commercial fisheries and marine conservation. But a new directive out of NOAA Fisheries indicates that the scales aren’t just tipping; they are being actively flipped over by the Trump Administration. On September 2, 2026, NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator … Read More “The Trump Administration’s latest attack on endangered species” »

Why the new Trump order to shoot wolves is both illegal and a dreadful precedent for endangered species

September 5, 2026September 5, 2026 Ali Gaster 1 Comment

Conservation, Science

On September 4, Donald Trump issued an executive order targeting the Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections of gray wolves and Mexican gray wolves. In the Oval Office he stated to an Arizona rancher that “you can shoot them as of today.” Video of this statement has now gone viral, with massive amounts of social media … Read More “Why the new Trump order to shoot wolves is both illegal and a dreadful precedent for endangered species” »

Refuge – I think this word does not mean what you think it means

August 24, 2026 Ali Gaster

Uncategorized

The Trump Administration opens up the national “refuge” system for hunting On August 13, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced what it called the largest expansion of hunting and sport-fishing opportunities in the agency’s history. The headline states: 1,488 new hunting and fishing opportunities, spread across 111 national wildlife refuges and fish hatcheries in … Read More “Refuge – I think this word does not mean what you think it means” »

The Trump Administration’s latest attack on the Endangered Species Act

August 21, 2026 Ali Gaster

Conservation, Policy, Science

There are three ways to destroy an environmental law. You can repeal it. You can withhold funds to enact or enforce the law. Or you can keep the law on the books, but rewrite the machinery that makes it work (i.e., you can sabotage it). Over the course of two weeks, the U.S. Fish and … Read More “The Trump Administration’s latest attack on the Endangered Species Act” »

Endangered species in limbo

August 17, 2026 Ali Gaster

Conservation, Policy, Science

If you spend any time scrolling through the Federal Register (and let’s be honest, that’s just one of the cool, hip, and happening ways we pass the time here at Southern Fried Science), you will notice an alarming trend. The Endangered Species Act (ESA) is widely considered the gold standard of conservation law and it … Read More “Endangered species in limbo” »

Ten very bad, no good things the latest Trump Administration has done to the oceans

August 14, 2026 Ali Gaster

Conservation, Policy, Uncategorized

The last 18 months have been an absolute nightmare for U.S. ocean and conservation policy. But here are the top ten worst things (in no particular order) this administration has done to marine conservation. 1. Opening Papahānaumokuākea to fishing In June 2026, a sweeping executive proclamation tore down commercial fishing bans in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine … Read More “Ten very bad, no good things the latest Trump Administration has done to the oceans” »

Emergency room conservation: why waiting for the Endangered Species Act to save a species is a fiscal disaster

August 11, 2026 Ali Gaster

Conservation, Policy, Science

Let’s talk about a pervasive zombie idea (a disproven idea that refuses to die) that continues to shamble through the halls of resource management. This is the belief that we shouldn’t spend money on conservation until a species is officially, legally designated as Threatened or Endangered. The logic behind this delay usually wears a suit … Read More “Emergency room conservation: why waiting for the Endangered Species Act to save a species is a fiscal disaster” »