Today, the California Citrus Quality Council (CCQC) notified the industry that the Monarch Butterfly has been listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
According to a news release from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, they propose to designate 4,395 acres of critical habitat for the western migratory monarch population across several coastal California counties, including Ventura. The critical habitat designation will not impose requirements on state or private land unless the action involves federal funding, permits or approvals.
To comply with ESA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently adopting policies to regulate pesticides. According to CCQC, EPA’s new ESA policies will add additional mitigations to pesticide labels to protect threatened and endangered species. Currently, the impact of the listing on pesticide regulations is unknown. However, public popularity and awareness of monarchs could impact pesticide policies.
CCQC has stated that they will continue to monitor the listing and its potential impact on California citrus growers. If you have any questions, please contact CCQC President Jim Cranney at (530) 906-6546 or jcranney@ccqc.org.
