Wild Fish Conservancy Threatens Lawsuit Over Chinook Salmon

The Washington state-based non-profit conservation organization Wild Fish Conservancy has notified NOAA Fisheries of its intent to sue for failure to meet deadlines under the Endangered Species Act related to Chinook salmon in Alaska.

The conservancy’s notification, issued Feb. 6, noted that the once abundant Chinooks are experiencing dramatic declines in Alaska, threatening food security, indigenous cultural practices, economics and coastal communities.

The WFC formally petitioned NOAA on Jan. 11, 2024, to grant ESA protections for Chinook salmon from rivers that flow into the Gulf of Alaska. The WFC said NOAA responded May 24, confirming that the petition contained substantial information indicating ESA-listing and protection may be warranted.

The initial finding triggered an in-depth review, including a formal public input process requesting relevant commercial or scientific information, the WFC said.

That gave NOAA until Jan. 11 to review the data on Gulf of Alaska Chinook salmon and determine whether ‘threatened’ or ‘endangered’ status under the ESA is warranted.

The conservancy said it was now signaling its intent to sue NOAA for missing the legally required deadline and further delaying protections for declining Chinook populations that may be at risk of extinction.

Recent research released by scientists at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and Oregon State University has confirmed that a growing number of salmon sharks in the Gulf of Alaska are preying on Chinook salmon.

Other issues impacting Chinook salmon range from warming waters and climate change issues to pollution issues with the ocean itself, including the increasing presence of microplastics.

Source: https://fishermensnews.com/wild-fish-conservancy-threatens-lawsuit-over-chinook-salmon/