According to the Fish and Wildlife Service, they believe that there are an estimated 15,000 breeding pairs of eiders in the two areas proposed for designation. In fact, the Fish and Wildlife Service did not designate critical habitat because they believed that loss of habitat was not a factor in the decline of the eider, Young said. The only critical habitat being designated is for the trial lawyers. The only animal that is winning with this designation are the environmental attorneys. Jamie Clark, Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service has indicated that she believes the designation does not provide any new or additional protections for the species.
Current law provides a cottage industry for environmental groups who sue to get their way.
It's unfortunate that these federal funds could not have gone to a species' recovery rather than subsidizing the green litigation industry. The real loser is the spectacled eider, not the trial lawyers.