New regs for Wednesday: Parrots, manatees, mussels

Wednesday’s edition of the Federal Register contains fewer protections for parrots and manatees, but new safeguards for freshwater mussels.

Manatees: The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is loosening its protections for certain manatees.

The West Indian manatee was listed as an endangered species in 1967, but the agency said Tuesday it will downgrade its status to threatened.

{mosads}The critical habitat for these manatees will stay in place.

The changes go into effect in 30 days.

Parrots: The FWS is weakening the protections for certain parrots.

The turquoise parakeet and scarlet-chested parakeet were both listed as endangered species in 1970, but the agency says the parrots no longer warrant these protections.

They will both be removed from the endangered species list.

The changes go into effect in 30 days.

Mussels: The FWS is proposing new protections for freshwater mussels.

The FWS proposed Tuesday to list the yellow lance mussel as a threatened species. The protections stem from a petition by the Center for Biological Diversity.

The public has 60 days to comment.