Tag Archives: Endangered Species Act (ESA)
Whale rule changes coming on two tracks
Maine lobstermen and their representatives, along with state fisheries regulators, continue in the trenches of debates about how much the Maine lobster fishery is implicated in the decline of the North Atlantic right whale. Ongoing efforts to protect the whales from entanglement with fishing gear may result in two different new sets of regulations, Sarah Cotnoir, resource coordinator for the Maine Department of Marine Resources, and Patrice McCarron, executive director of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association, told the Zone B Council last week. >click to read<11:03
Killing to Conserve – Is it effective, or ethical, to cull one protected species to help another?
From a population reduced to about 10,000 in the 1950s, California sea lion numbers have grown to nearly 390,000 since they were protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, which made it illegal to kill, or “take,” them without a permit. While most of the animals wintering on the Oregon coast stick to offshore habitat, bays, and estuaries, since 2000 a small number of sea lions, 100 or so, have been swimming 145 miles up the Columbia River, from its mouth at Astoria to Bonneville Dam, to eat upstream migrating salmon that stack up at the base of the dam and fish ladders. Some of the fish they devour are upriver spring Chinook salmon, which are listed as endangered under the Read the article here 11:25
Judge rules against Oceana, Greenpeace in Stellar sea lion lawsuit over increased Aleutians fishing
A US judge ruled against the US arms of Oceana and Greenpeace in a lawsuit in which the NGOs sought declaratory and injunctive relief against the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), US Department of Commerce, and others, challenging recent authorization of increased industrial fishing in the western and central Aleutian Islands. Oceana and Greenpeace argued the defendants, groups involved in the federal groundfish fishery, violate the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). Read the rest here 18:17
The End of the U.S. Shrimping Industry – Execution by Electrocution? Public comments end 3/31/14
In 2010, WildEarth Guardians petitioned the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to list the lesser electric ray (also commonly called the Caribbean electric ray) under the ESA, but that petition was denied in a 90-day finding in March 2011. If the lesser electric ray is listed under the ESA, it could mean the end of shrimp fishing as we know it throughout the ray’s range, which includes all the Gulf states, as well as states along the east coast from Florida to North Carolina. Read more here thegoodcatchblog 23:17
Fish, Lesser Prairie Chickens, and “sue and settle” practices – Federal regulations should be based on reality, not agendas
OKLAHOMA Attorney General Scott Pruitt has filed a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s “sue and settle” practices, which dramatically expand federal regulations without public input. Read more here 18:43
Endangered Species Act (ESA) Congressional Working Group releases final report & recommendations
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) Congressional Working Group, led by Representatives Doc Hastings (WA-04) and Cynthia Lummis (WY-at large), today released its final Report, Findings and Recommendations. The report concludes that “After more than 40 years, sensible, targeted reforms would not only improve the eroding credibility of the Act, but would ensure it is implemented more effectively for species and people.” Read [email protected] 18:12
Group Led by Hastings Seeks Public Input on the ESA
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) Congressional Working Group, led by Hastings and Rep. Cynthia Lummis (WY-at large), invites public comments from people across the country who have been impacted by the ESA. The Working Group is examining ways to strengthen and improve the ESA to better serve the needs of both species and people. “From concerns surrounding a sub-species of plant known as the Bladderpod, to salmon, to wolves, my own Central Washington constituents continue to be impacted by the ESA in a number of significant ways,” said Hastings. “We invite others, from around the country, to submit their own stories on how they have also been directly impacted by this law. It’s clear that there is agreement on the need to update the ESA.” The public is encouraged to submit their thoughts, ideas, and recommendations to the Endangered Species Act Working Group here. 15:15
Endangered Species Act (ESA) Congressional Working Group forum. Senator Tom Casperon (R-Escanaba) testify’s
The forum, “Reviewing 40 Years of the Endangered Species Act and Seeking Improvement for People and Species,” featured 17 panelists. Each panelist represents a wide range of diverse groups and interests across the country. They discussed ways the ESA could be altered to better serve state issues and needs. more@abc10up 23:22
ESA Working Group Hears from Participants from Across the Nation on the Need to Improve and Update the Law
At the forum, there was widespread acknowledgement of the need to review the ESA, which hasn’t been reauthorized by Congress in 25 years. Christy Plumer, Director of Federal Land Programs for the Nature Conservancy, even noted that the law “could benefit from a review by Congress for the purpose of improving its effectiveness.” [email protected] 10:27
