It was a momentous occasion in Mesa, Arizona, as conservationists gathered at Bass Pro Shops to celebrate a rare environmental victory: the Apache trout, once teetering on the brink of extinction, has officially been removed from the federal Endangered Species list. The success was lauded by Governor Katie Hobbs, who, alongside the Arizona Game and Fish Department and tribal leaders, marked the event as a landmark of cooperation.

"This is a historic day that is the result of decades of collaboration and partnership,” Governor Hobbs was quoted in a statement obtained by the Office of the Arizona Governor. The concerted efforts of the White Mountain Apache Tribe, state officials, and local conservationists were pivotal in turning to surely protect and restore the native fish populations over years of dedicated work.

The Apache trout's status as endangered came to the foreground in 1967, one of the first species to receive federal attention. Redeemed to threatened from endangered in 1975, the Apache trout has been the focus of an extensive recovery operation, crafted through partnerships among the Arizona Game and Fish Department, White Mountain Apache Tribe, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and USDA Forest Service. Together, they formed the Apache Trout Recovery Team and laid a foundation for the species' comeback with several recovery plans.

The 2021 Apache Trout Cooperative Management Plan, with shared responsibilities across several agencies including Trout Unlimited, encompasses continued efforts to maintain the species' recovered status even after delisting. Kasey Velasquez, chairman of the White Mountain Apache Tribe, stressed the commitment to ensuring the fish's survival in their native habitat, while also providing recreational fishing opportunities for Arizonans. The significance of sportfishing, particularly in cement both the Apache trout's ecological and cultural importance.

Additional speakers at the event lighted upcoming measures and celebrated the cooperative spirit that underpinned the Apache trout's recovery. Notable attendees included representatives such as Siva Sundaresan and Amy Leuders of the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, Michael Martinez from the U.S. Forest Service, and Chris Wood, president and CEO of Trout Unlimited. The gathering was not just a ceremony but an affirmation of the belief in conservation as a collective endeavor.