🐟Compliance Requirements for Hatchery Programs Under ESA
NMFS has evaluated plans for three hatchery programs rearing and releasing Chinook, coho, and pink salmon in the Dungeness River basin, submitted by the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) as co-managers pursuant to the limitation on take prohibitions for actions conducted under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The plans describe hatchery programs operated by the co-managers. This document serves to notify the public of the availability of an Evaluation and Recommended Determination Document (ERD) in which NMFS, by delegated authority from the Secretary of Commerce, has determined that implementing and enforcing these hatchery and genetics management plans (HGMPs) will not appreciably reduce the likelihood of survival and recovery nor modify or destroy critical habitat of Puget Sound Chinook salmon or Puget Sound steelhead.
Learn More🦏Regulatory Findings on Endangered Species and Business Implications
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce 90- day findings on eight petitions to add species to the Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants and one petition to revise critical habitat for a listed species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Based on our review, we find that the petitions to list the cinnamon juga (Juga canella), Great Basin ramshorn (Helisoma newberryi), montane peaclam (Pisidium ultramontanum), painted woolly bat (Kerivoula picta), Southern Cascades population of the Sierra Nevada red fox (Vulpes vulpes necator), and Sulawesi forest turtle (Leucocephalon yuwonoi) present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned actions may be warranted. Therefore, with the publication of this document, we announce that we are initiating status reviews of these species to determine whether the petitioned actions are warranted. To ensure that the status reviews are comprehensive, we request scientific and commercial data and other information regarding the species and factors that may affect their status. Based on the status reviews, we will issue 12-month petition findings, which will address whether or not the petitioned actions are warranted, in accordance with the Act. We also find that the petition to revise critical habitat for the leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) presents substantial scientific information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted. Therefore, we announce that we plan to determine how we will proceed with the request to revise a critical habitat designation for the species. We further find that the petitions to list the Alaskan glacier buttercup (Ranunculus glacialis subsp. alaskensis) and eastern population of the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) do not present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating the petitioned actions may be warranted. Therefore, we are not initiating a status review of the Alaskan glacier buttercup or the eastern population of golden eagle.
Learn More🐾Not Warranted
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 12-month finding on the status of the Northern California-Southern Oregon distinct population segment (NCSO DPS) of fisher (Pekania pennanti) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The fisher is a mammal species in the weasel family found primarily in mature conifer and mixed hardwood forests. After a thorough review of the best available scientific and commercial information, we find that listing the NCSO DPS of fisher as an endangered or threatened species is not warranted at this time. However, we ask the public to submit to us at any time any new information relevant to the status of the NCSO DPS of fisher or its habitat.
Learn More🌿Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Kaua'i Habitat Conservation
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has received an incidental take permit (ITP) application from the Kaua[revaps]i Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC; applicant), associated with KIUC's proposed habitat conservation plan (proposed HCP) submitted pursuant to the Endangered Species Act. The applicant seeks an ITP from the Service to authorize the incidental take of nine species expected to result from KIUC's operation and modification of existing and future powerlines and lighting activities on the island of Kaua[revaps]i as well as implementation of a conservation strategy. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, this notice announces the availability of a draft environmental impact statement. With this notice, we also make available the proposed HCP submitted by the applicant and invite public comments.
Learn More🐭Incidental Take Permits for Alabama Beach Mouse Conservation Plans
We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce receipt of an application from Lydia Carpenter and one from Joshua Milligan 1031, LLC (applicant/applicants) for two separate incidental take permits (ITP) pursuant to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the National Environmental Policy Act under the approved General Conservation Plan (GCP) and final environmental impact statement (FEIS) for the Alabama beach mouse. A GCP is a mechanism that meets the definition of a conservation plan in the ESA and enables the programmatic permitting and conservation process to address a defined suite of proposed activities over a defined planning area. Each applicant requests an ITP to take the federally listed Alabama beach mouse incidental to the construction of a single-family home in Baldwin County, Alabama. We request public comment on these applications, which include the applicants' proposed habitat conservation plan (HCP) and on the Service's preliminary determination that the proposed permitting action may qualify under the terms of the Alabama beach mouse GCP. We certify that the applications received are statutorily complete and include the necessary information to enroll in the GCP.
Learn More🌿Notice of CITES Meeting for U.S. Trade Regulation Impact
To implement the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES or the Convention), the Parties to the Convention meet periodically to review what species in international trade should be regulated and other aspects of CITES implementation. The twentieth regular meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES (CoP20) is scheduled to take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, November 24-December 5, 2025. Currently, the United States is developing its negotiating positions on proposed resolutions, decisions, and amendments to the CITES Appendices (species proposals), as well as other agenda items that have been submitted by other Parties, the permanent CITES committees, and the CITES Secretariat for consideration at CoP20. With this notice, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the provisional agenda for CoP20, solicits your comments on the items on the provisional agenda, and schedules a public meeting to seek comments on the items included in the provisional agenda.
Learn More🌊Corrections to Critical Habitat Regulations for Threatened Corals
NMFS is correcting a final rule that appeared in the Federal Register of July 15, 2025. The document designated critical habitat for five species of Indo-Pacific corals that are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). As part of the final rule, NMFS added a section describing the critical habitat areas being designated and amended a table to cross-reference the newly added section for each of the five species. In amending the table, NMFS inadvertently used the incorrect section number as the cross-reference. This document corrects those errors.
Learn More🦎Proposed Rule for Borneo Earless Monitor Endangered Status
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list the Borneo earless monitor (Lanthanotus borneensis), a lizard species from Borneo, as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This determination also serves as our 12-month finding on a petition to list the Borneo earless monitor. After a review of the best scientific and commercial data available, we find that listing the species is warranted. Accordingly, we propose to list the Borneo earless monitor as a threatened species with protective regulations under section 4(d) of the Act ("4(d) rule"). If we finalize this rule as proposed, it would add this species to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and extend the Act's protections to the species.
Learn More🐢Notice of Permit Application for Sea Turtle Research
Notice is hereby given that Inwater Research Group, 4160 NE Hyline Drive, Jensen Beach, FL 34957 (Responsible Party: Cody Mott), has applied in due form for a permit to take green (Chelonia mydas), Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), loggerhead (Caretta caretta), and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles for purposes of scientific research.
Learn More🌿Proposed Delisting of Virginia Sneezeweed and Business Implications
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to remove Virginia sneezeweed (Helenium virginicum) from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Plants. Our review indicates that the threats to Virginia sneezeweed have been eliminated or reduced to the point that the species no longer meets the definition of an endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Accordingly, we propose to delist Virginia sneezeweed. If we finalize this rule as proposed, the prohibitions and conservation measures provided by the Act, particularly through sections 7 and 9, would no longer apply to Virginia sneezeweed.
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